dream

dream

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Pronunciation

The IPA phonetic spelling for "dream" is /driːm/.

• driːm:

• /d/ - voiced alveolar plosive

• /r/ - voiced alveolar approximant

• /iː/ - long close front unrounded vowel

• /m/ - voiced bilabial nasal

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Word Form Variations

• Noun:

• Singular: dream

• Plural: dreams

• Verb:

• Base form: dream

• Third person singular present: dreams

• Present participle: dreaming

• Past tense: dreamed (or dreamt)

• Past participle: dreamed (or dreamt)

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Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms

Noun

1. A series of thoughts, images, and sensations occurring in a person's mind during sleep.

• Synonyms: fantasy, vision, nightmare (if negative), reverie

• Antonyms: reality, wakefulness, actuality

2. A cherished aspiration, ambition, or ideal; something greatly desired or hoped for.

• Synonyms: goal, aspiration, ambition, hope, desire, aim

• Antonyms: nightmare (in the sense of a terrible experience), reality (if the dream is unachieved), disillusionment

Verb

1. To experience a series of thoughts, images, and sensations during sleep.

• Synonyms: imagine (in sleep), fantasize (in sleep)

• Antonyms: wake, be awake

2. To have a strong wish or hope for something; to imagine a future possibility.

• Synonyms: hope, wish, aspire, envision, fantasize, imagine

• Antonyms: despair, dread, give up, abandon, relinquish

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Examples of Use

Books:

• "I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.'" (Martin Luther King Jr., Why We Can't Wait, 1964)

• "Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world." (Harriet Tubman, often attributed, though the exact phrasing and origin are debated)

Newspapers:

• "The city's affordable housing initiative is a step towards making homeownership a tangible dream for more residents." (The New York Times)

• "Scientists are working to understand how our brains process and remember dreams, offering insights into consciousness." (The Guardian)

Online Publications:

• "For many aspiring entrepreneurs, launching their own startup is the ultimate dream." (Forbes.com)

• "Can lucid dreaming enhance creativity? Experts weigh in on this fascinating phenomenon." (PsychologyToday.com)

Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:

• Film: "Inception" (2010) explores a world where technology allows people to enter and manipulate others' dreams.

• Music: "California Dreamin'" (The Mamas & the Papas, 1965) is a classic song about longing for a warmer place.

• Television Series: In "The Sandman" (Netflix, 2022), the protagonist is Dream, the personification of dreams and nightmares.

• Video Games: "Dreams" (Media Molecule, 2020) for PlayStation allows players to create and share their own interactive dreams and games.

General Public Discourse:

• "It was a dream come true when I finally got accepted into my top-choice university." (Common conversational phrase)

• "Don't stop chasing your dreams, no matter how big they seem." (Motivational saying)

• "I had the weirdest dream last night, I was flying!" (Everyday conversation about sleep experiences)

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10 Quotes Using Dream

1. "I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.'" (Martin Luther King Jr., August 1963)

2. "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." (Eleanor Roosevelt)

3. "All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them." (Walt Disney)

4. "It always seems impossible until it's done." (Nelson Mandela) While not explicitly using "dream", it is heavily associated with achieving seemingly impossible goals/dreams.

5. "The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams." (Oprah Winfrey)

6. "It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities." (J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets) While not explicitly using "dream", this quote speaks to the pursuit of one's aspirations, a common theme with "dream".

7. "Hitch your wagon to a star." (Ralph Waldo Emerson) This quote implies aiming high, like one would with a grand "dream".

8. "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you've imagined." (Henry David Thoreau, Walden)

9. "Hold fast to dreams / For if dreams die / Life is a broken-winged bird / That cannot fly." (Langston Hughes, "Dreams")

10. "A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality." (John Lennon)

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Etymology

Originally, in Old English (the language spoken in England before the Norman Conquest in 1066), the word "drēam" didn't mean a vision you have while sleeping at all. Instead, it meant "noise," "joy," or "music." Think of a lively feast with music and merriment – that was a "drēam."

It wasn't until around the 13th century, during the Middle English period, that "dream" started to take on the meaning we use today: a series of thoughts and images you experience while you're asleep. This change is believed to have been heavily influenced by a similar word from Old Norse (the language of the Vikings), "draumr," which did mean "a vision during sleep." So, it seems the English adopted the meaning from their Norse neighbors, even though their own "drēam" had a different, more joyful, sound-related meaning.

Eventually, the older meaning of "drēam" (joy, music) faded away, leaving us with the "dream" related to sleep and aspirations.

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Phrases + Idioms Containing Dream

1. Dream come true: An aspiration or hope that has been realized.

2. In your wildest dreams: Used to emphasize that something is highly unlikely or extraordinary.

3. Beyond your wildest dreams: Exceeding all expectations.

4. A pipe dream: An unrealistic or unattainable hope or plan.

5. Living the dream: Experiencing a highly desirable and fulfilling life.

6. Wouldn't dream of it: Would never consider doing something, usually implying it's unthinkable or inappropriate.

7. Dream on: Used to tell someone their hope or idea is unlikely to happen.

8. Daydream: A series of pleasant thoughts that distract one's attention from the present.

9. Dream up: To invent or imagine something, often something unusual or elaborate.

10. A dream boat: A very attractive person (informal).

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Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA

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Source Information

Definition of dream from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.

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