dream

²dream verb

dreams; dreamed /ˈdrɛmt, ˈdri:md/ or dreamt /ˈdrɛmt/; dream·ing

1 : to have visions and thoughts in your sleep : to have a dream while you are sleeping [no obj] — often + of or about ▪ He dreamed of drowning and woke up trembling. ▪ I have trouble remembering the things I dream about. [+ obj] ▪ Last night I dreamed (that) you were here talking to me. ▪ Did it really happen or did I just dream it?

2 : to think about something that you wish would happen or something that you want to do or be [no obj] ▪ He tends to dream big but he never really does the things he dreams of doing. ▪ She stared out the window dreaming. [=daydreaming] ▪ You're dreaming [=you're completely wrong] if you think being a parent is going to be easy. — often + of ▪ She spent hours reading love stories and dreaming of romance. ▪ They dreamed of success. ▪ He dreamed of becoming a teacher. [+ obj] ▪ As a child, I always dreamed (that) I would be an astronaut when I grew up. ▪ I sat on the porch and dreamed away the day. [=I spent the whole day thinking and dreaming] ▪ I never dreamt that it would be so difficult. [=it was much more difficult than I expected it to be]

dream on

informal — used to say that you do not think something that another person wants or expects will ever happen ▪ “I think my band will be famous one day.” “Dream on.”

dream up [phrasal verb]

dream up (something) also dream (something) up : to think of or invent (something) in your mind
▪ He dreams up all sorts of fantastic adventures. ▪ She tries a lot of new recipes that she dreams up herself. ▪ They dreamed up a plan to get the information.

never/not dream of

— used to say that you would never do something or think of doing something ▪ I would never dream of asking for more money. ▪ “Did you ever do anything to hurt her?” “I wouldn't dream of it!”