Home
/ Dictionary
/ Starting With D
/ Page 5
/ Daydreams

Daydreams: meaning, definitions and examples

💭

Add to dictionary

daydreams

[ ˈdeɪdriːmz ]

Noun / Verb

^{Context #1 | Noun}

in one's mind

A series of pleasant thoughts that distract one's attention from the present moment. Daydreams often involve fantasies about the future or reminiscences of the past.

Synonyms

fantasy, imagination, reverie.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
daydreams	When someone is lost in their thoughts, often thinking about pleasant things they wish could happen, but they do so during the day, while being awake. She often gets lost in her daydreams and forgets what she was doing He sat by the window, indulging in his daydreams of traveling the world
fantasy	When someone imagines something that is impossible or highly unlikely to happen, often relating to stories with magical elements. His favorite book is a fantasy novel about dragons and wizards She has a fantasy about living in a castle
reverie	A state of being pleasantly lost in one's thoughts, often more poetic or dreamy compared to simple daydreaming. He was in a reverie, remembering the beautiful days of his youth Her reverie was interrupted by the ringing phone
imagination	The ability to create ideas or pictures in your mind, often used to describe a general sense of creativity or inventiveness. Children have vivid imaginations and can turn simple objects into magical items His imagination helps him come up with innovative solutions to problems

Examples of usage

I often catch myself lost in daydreams about traveling the world.
She spent hours lost in daydreams about her childhood summers.

^{Context #2 | Verb}

about an idealized or fantasy world

To indulge in a series of pleasant thoughts or fantasies, typically about the future or an idealized world. Daydreaming is often seen as a way to escape reality temporarily.

Synonyms

dream, fantasize, imagine.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
daydreams	Usually used when someone's mind wanders off and they start thinking about something pleasant and unrelated to the current task. Often seen as a harmless distraction. She often finds herself lost in daydreams during boring meetings. His daydreams about traveling the world made the long commute more bearable.
fantasize	Often used when someone is imagining something that is extremely desirable but unlikely to happen. It has a connotation of being unrealistic. She likes to fantasize about winning the lottery. He often fantasizes about living on a tropical island.
imagine	Used when someone is picturing something in their mind, often for creative or planning purposes. More neutral and versatile compared to other words. Try to imagine yourself in 10 years. Can you imagine what life would be like without electricity?
dream	Refers to the mental experiences that occur during sleep. It can also mean lofty or aspirational goals one has in life. She had a strange dream last night. His dream is to become a professional musician.

Examples of usage

She daydreams about becoming a famous actress one day.
He often daydreams about winning the lottery and living a life of luxury.

Translations

Translations of the word "daydreams" in other languages:

🇵🇹 devaneios

🇮🇳 सपने

🇩🇪 Tagträume

🇮🇩 lamunan

🇺🇦 мрії

🇵🇱 marzenia na jawie

🇯🇵 白昼夢 (hakuchūmu)

🇫🇷 rêveries

🇪🇸 ensoñaciones

🇹🇷 hayaller

🇰🇷 공상 (gongsang)

🇸🇦 أحلام اليقظة

🇨🇿 snění

🇸🇰 snívanie

🇨🇳 白日梦 (báirìmèng)

🇸🇮 sanjarenje

🇮🇸 dagdraumar

🇰🇿 армандар

🇬🇪 ოცნებები (ots'nebebi)

🇦🇿 xəyallar

🇲🇽 ensoñaciones

Etymology

The term 'daydreams' originated from the Middle English word 'daydreem', which combines 'day' with 'dream'. Daydreams have been a part of human experience for centuries, with people using them as a form of mental escape or creative exploration.