How could I be a robot? Robots don't dream.
Source: tatoeba (1456)
Dream
/dɹiːm/
Synonyms for "dream" (240 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (48)
absence of mindabsentmindednessabsorptionabstractednessabstractionaceacheairy hopeairy nothingaspirationassumeautismbad dreambathing beautybe absentbe afraidbeau idealbeautbeautybeauty contest winner
Show 20 more words
beauty queenbelievebellebemusementbrown studybubblebunnycastle buildingcastle in the aircastle-buildingcharmerchimeraconceiveconcludeconjure upconsidercorkercover girlcrackerjackcrave
Verb(1 words)
Strong matches (72)
daisydandydarbdaresaydaydreamdaydreamerdaydreamingdazzlerdeceptiondeducedeemdelirium tremensdeluded beliefdelusiondepth of thoughtdereismdillydivagatedivinedream of
Show 36 more words
dream visiondreamingdreamlanddreamworldenchantressengrossmentexpectfalse belieffancyfantasyfantasyingfeelfigmentfit of abstractionflight of fancyfreak outgathergo woolgatheringgolden dreamgrantgreat beautyhallucinatehallucinationhallucinosishankerhazehigh goalhoneyhumdingerhungerideaidealidealismidealsignis fatuusillusion
Verb(5 words)
Noun(11 words)
Related words (120)
Noun(13 words)
imagineincubusinferkiller dillerkiller-dillerknockoutlady fairletlet belollapaloosalonglookerlululustmakemind-expansionmiragemisbeliefmisconceptionmiss america
Show 81 more words
modelmoonmooningmoonrakingmusemusefulnessmusingmuted ecstasynightmareopineparagonpeachphantasmpinepinuppinup girlpippipepipe dreampipe-dreampipe-dreamingpippinprefigurepreoccupationpresumepresupposepresurmiseprovisionally acceptpussycatquixotic idealrainbowraving beautyreaching highreckonreigning beautyreputereveriesayself-deceitself-deceptionself-delusionsex kittensighslick chickspeculationstargazestargazingstraystudystunnersupposesurmisesuspectsweethearttaketake fortake for grantedtake itthinkthirstthoughttrancetricktriptrippingunderstandunreal hopeupward lookingutopiavagaryvaporviewvisionwalter mittywanderwhimwhimsywhizwoolgatheringwrong impressionyearn
Verb(4 words)
Adjective(2 words)
otherworldly visionutopian vision
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: ambition, dreaming, absence of mind, absentmindedness, absorption.
- aspire: 'Aspire' turns a dream into a goal, it implies ambition and effort, not just idle wishing.
- Sentence evidence is available for dream, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "dream".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "dream"
Keep "dream" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "dream" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "dream", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "dream" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
How these synonyms differ
- aspire - 'Aspire' turns a dream into a goal, it implies ambition and effort, not just idle wishing.
- envision - 'Envision' is more purposeful, you envision a future you intend to build, while dreaming can be passive and aimless.
- fantasize - 'Fantasize' implies imaginings that are more elaborate and often further from reality than dreams. It can carry a self-indulgent or escapist tone.
- imagine - 'Imagine' is broader and more neutral, it includes everything from creative visualization to casual what-ifs, without the longing that 'dream' carries.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
32 entriesambitionaspirationcognitioncognitive eventcognitive processcomprehendconceive ofdesireenvisageexperiencefantasyflawlessnessgoalideaideateimagery
Showing 16 of 32 words.
More specific
10 entriesCollocations
10 entriesdream analysisdream contentdream jobdream recalldream sequencedream statedreamlike statelucid dreamrecurring dreamvivid dream
Inflections
4 entriesDerivations
3 entriesSample sentences
48 total sentences available.
I have a dream.
Source: tatoeba (1630)
You make me dream.
Source: tatoeba (1806)
Do you ever dream about flying through the sky?
Source: tatoeba (16198)
Showing 4 of 48 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "dream"?
Closest matches include ambition, dreaming, absence of mind, absentmindedness, absorption.
How is "aspire" different from "dream"?
'Aspire' turns a dream into a goal, it implies ambition and effort, not just idle wishing.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "dream"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.