dreamer

A2 Topic:Describing People

US /ˈdɹimɚ/ UK /ˈdɹiːmə/ See IPA manual

Freq #11181

Meanings

1

noun
a person who is dreaming while asleep

The dreamer woke suddenly when the door slammed.
2

noun
a person who often escapes into fantasy and is not very practical

His friends called him a dreamer because he made plans without considering the cost.
3

noun
a person guided by ambitious hopes or ideals

Every major reform begins with a dreamer who imagines a better system.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a person who is dreaming... sleeper

2 noun · a person who often escapes... fantasistescapist

3 noun · a person guided by... idealist visionary

Opposites

realist pragmatist

Word family

Derived forms nondreamer

Related forms dreamdaydreamervisionary

Etymology

From Middle English dremer, equivalent to dream + the agent suffix -er. Cognates include Dutch dromer and German Träumer. The literal sleeper sense developed naturally into two figurative types: an impractical fantasist and an idealistic visionary.

Topics

Describing People

External links

# dreamer

**Type:** Word
**Level:** A2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈdɹimɚ/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈdɹiːmə/
**Frequency rank:** 11181

## Meanings
1. a person who is dreaming while asleep
2. a person who often escapes into fantasy and is not very practical
3. a person guided by ambitious hopes or ideals

## Examples
- The dreamer woke suddenly when the door slammed.
- His friends called him a dreamer because he made plans without considering the cost.
- Every major reform begins with a dreamer who imagines a better system.

## Synonyms
- fantasist
- escapist
- idealist
- visionary

## Antonyms
- realist
- pragmatist

## Derived Forms
- nondreamer

## Related Forms
- dream
- daydreamer
- visionary

## Etymology
From Middle English dremer, equivalent to dream + the agent suffix -er. Cognates include Dutch dromer and German Träumer. The literal sleeper sense developed naturally into two figurative types: an impractical fantasist and an idealistic visionary.

## Topics
- Describing People

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