The difference between the two similar phrases “dream of” and “dream about” is not always clear to every reader and writer due to the similarity of the two. This brief article will explore the difference between the phrases “dream of” and “dream about” with some helpful example sentences.
What Is The Difference Between “Dream Of ” And “Dream About”?
There is little difference between “dream of” and “dream about”. Due to the similarity of the two, readers and writers often use “dream of” and “dream about” interchangeably. “Dream of” refers to a daydream of a desire, whilst “dream about” refers to images and thoughts that are induced during sleep.
The phrase “dream of” is more specific than “dream about”. “Dream about” is more of a general term.
To “dream” is to experience a dream whilst sleeping, or to have a fantasy about something whilst asleep or awake.
The phrase “dream of” is usually followed by a verb, whilst the phrase “dream about” is most often used when referring to a noun.
What Does “Dream Of” Mean?
The phrase “dream of” means to have a want, a need, or a desire for something or someone. This could be an aspiration or a goal.
In a sentence, the phrase “dream of” is usually followed by the word “being” or “having”.
To help you to understand the meaning of the phrase “dream of”, note the following simple sentence examples which include the phrase “dream of”:
- Jason feared his dream of working for the new company would never come true.
- Laura’s dream of becoming an Olympic gymnast remained unfulfilled and she was beginning to lose enthusiasm for the hobby.
- At the moment, Julie’s dream of becoming a famous actress seemed out of reach because she could not afford to pay for acting classes.
- I dream of living in a town that is safe and free of crime.
- If someone dreams of success and works hard then maybe they can achieve their goals.
- Against all odds, Dan achieved his dream of becoming a pilot, and was soon flying planes all over the world.
- I dream of traveling the world but understand that this dream will probably never become a reality.
What Does “Dream About” Mean?
The phrase “dream about” refers to a series of thoughts and images someone has experienced whilst sleeping.
The phrase “dream about” is often used in sentences more informally.
To help you to understand the meaning of the phrase “dream about”, note the following simple sentence examples which include the phrase “dream about”:
- I had a vivid dream last night about falling out of a helicopter and woke up sweating and crying.
- What did you dream about last night, Claire?
- I often dream about flying in a plane, but when I wake up I can’t remember some of the finer details of the dream.
- He dreamed about her every night and had even begun to write poetry about her; he knew that he loved her.
- I had a very odd dream about you last night and I can’t see to forget it; the dream has been bothering me all day.
- I had a prophetic dream about a car crash the night before the big collision at the nearby motorway involving five vehicles.
- I often dream about winning the lottery at the weekend and always wake up feeling very disappointed.
Are “Dream Of” And “Dream About” Interchangeable?
Sometimes the words “dream of” and “dream about” are used interchangeably in informal conversation and writing because the meanings are so similar. However, the two phrases are not technically interchangeable because “dream of” and “dream about” have subtly different meanings.
As this article has established “dream of” means to have a daydream or fantasy about a need, want, or desire, whilst “dream about” means to experience thoughts and images whilst in the act of sleeping.
The words “dreamed” and “dreamt” are examples of interchangeable words on the same subject of dreaming.
Is “Dream Of” Or “Dream About” Used The Most?
The phrase “dream of” is used far more than the phrase “dream about”.
This helpful graph from Google Ngram Viewer shows the usage of the phrases “dream of” and “dream about” in the period 1800 to 2019. The line in red represents the usage of “dream about” and the line in blue represents “dream of”.
As you can clearly see, the graph illustrates that the phrase “dream of” is the most used phrase. In fact, “dream of” has been by the far the most used phrase throughout the time period 1800-2019.
Is It “What Did You Dream Of” Or “What Did You Dream About”?
Both the phrases “what did you dream of” and “what did you dream about” are correct to use in a sentence, but the two phrases have subtly different meanings depending on the context of the sentence. “What did you dream of” refers to a daydream or desire, whilst “what did you dream about” refers to thoughts or images occurring during sleep.
To help you to understand the slight difference in the meaning of the phrases “what did you dream of” and “what did you dream about” note the following simple sentence examples which include the phrase “dream about”:
- What did you dream of the most when you were a little girl? I always dreamed of being an actress in a famous movie.
- What did you dream about last night? You were crying loudly in your sleep and I was starting to feel quite concerned.
Final Thoughts
Whilst the two phrases “dream of” and “dream about” are often used interchangeably in informal speech and conversation, this article has established that the phrase “dream of” refers to a daydream of a desire, a want, or a need, whilst the phrase “dream about” refers to a series of images or thoughts that can occur whilst engaging in the act of sleep. Therefore, whilst there is little difference between “dream of” and “dream about”, the meanings are subtly different. The phrase “dream of” has been used far more than the phrase “dream about” over time.
Martin holds a Master’s degree in Finance and International Business. He has six years of experience in professional communication with clients, executives, and colleagues. Furthermore, he has teaching experience from Aarhus University. Martin has been featured as an expert in communication and teaching on Forbes and Shopify. Read more about Martin here.
