as in trance
the state of being lost in thought if you're bored while traveling, daydreaming is a perfectly normal state to be in, regardless of what the road signs say
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in dreaming
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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of daydreaming
Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 13 Apr. 2026 In the album’s most beautiful moments, Triplin makes arpeggios sound like prancing through an earthly paradise and sands off juke’s rough edges to produce rhythms that seem to chug along in the margins of a daydreaming brain. —Kiana Mickles, Pitchfork, 5 Mar. 2026 These cuts enable us to spend more time daydreaming and less time in the salon. —Loren Savini, Allure, 14 Feb. 2026 Filmmaking is blind instinct, petty calculations, smooth generalship, daydreaming, pig-headedness, grace, bluff, risk. —Susan Sontag, Vogue, 26 Oct. 2025 The colorful flowers are perfect for a photo-op or casual daydreaming. —Paige Moore, AZCentral.com, 7 Oct. 2025 Those daydreaming of taking in the sweeping sunrise vistas across Middle Harbour just got lucky because one of the most significant abodes on the street just surfaced on market for the first time in over four decades. —Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 27 Aug. 2025 This is a train ride for daydreaming, drawing, reading, playing cards, or any other low-tech pursuit. —Alesandra Dubin, AFAR Media, 25 Aug. 2025 Maladaptive daydreaming is a form of intense daydreaming characterized by the creation of unrealistic or fantastical situations, conversations, or stories in one’s own mind that are outside the realm of a person’s day-to-day life. —Angelica Bottaro, Verywell Health, 7 Aug. 2025
Noun
Nothing wrong with idealizing and daydreaming, but to a certain extent. —Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 13 Apr. 2026 In the album’s most beautiful moments, Triplin makes arpeggios sound like prancing through an earthly paradise and sands off juke’s rough edges to produce rhythms that seem to chug along in the margins of a daydreaming brain. —Kiana Mickles, Pitchfork, 5 Mar. 2026 These cuts enable us to spend more time daydreaming and less time in the salon. —Loren Savini, Allure, 14 Feb. 2026 Filmmaking is blind instinct, petty calculations, smooth generalship, daydreaming, pig-headedness, grace, bluff, risk. —Susan Sontag, Vogue, 26 Oct. 2025 The colorful flowers are perfect for a photo-op or casual daydreaming. —Paige Moore, AZCentral.com, 7 Oct. 2025 Those daydreaming of taking in the sweeping sunrise vistas across Middle Harbour just got lucky because one of the most significant abodes on the street just surfaced on market for the first time in over four decades. —Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 27 Aug. 2025 This is a train ride for daydreaming, drawing, reading, playing cards, or any other low-tech pursuit. —Alesandra Dubin, AFAR Media, 25 Aug. 2025 Maladaptive daydreaming is a form of intense daydreaming characterized by the creation of unrealistic or fantastical situations, conversations, or stories in one’s own mind that are outside the realm of a person’s day-to-day life. —Angelica Bottaro, Verywell Health, 7 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for daydreaming
Noun
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Sound, light, and vibration/ Reshape our perceptions/ Pulling us into a trance-like state.— Ellise Shafer, Variety, 15 Apr. 2026
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Pulling us into a trance-like state.— Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Life imitating art By the time Artemis astronauts begin assembling a real foothold at the Moon’s south pole, the blueprint will feel oddly familiar, at least to those sim addicts who have been dreaming of a functional moon colony for decades now.— Alan Bradley, Space.com, 22 Apr. 2026
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Logan’s script seems intent on making the case that Michael was simply a big kid, frequently cutting to him leafing through his beloved Peter Pan books, dreaming that Neverland is a real place, adoring animals (not his pets!— Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 21 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The family car is a Mazda, but Zac daydreams of a Bugatti Veyron.— Frank Langfitt, NPR, 4 Apr. 2026
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More than masturbatory daydreams, Vladimir inspires our heroine to write with abandon, ignoring professional and personal obligations in service to her muse.— Alison Herman, Variety, 5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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This week, Olivia Rodrigo falls head over heels in a dreamy synth-pop track, Tom Waits returns to music with a brooding, political Massive Attack collaboration, and Tyla and Zara Larsson team up for a sultry pop girl jam.— Rolling Stone, Rolling Stone, 17 Apr. 2026
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Under the Zagros Mountains outside Shiraz, a family of Iranian nomads and their reticent sons investigate the disappearance of twelve sheep while navigating their flock through the modern city of poets in this dreamy documentary.— Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Then comes making promises and fantasizing about a future together.— Erin Vanderhoof, Vanity Fair, 21 Apr. 2026
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After the fundraiser, sweet young couple Austin (Charles Melton) and Ashley (Cailee Spaeny) are making out by the tennis courts, fantasizing about one day having a family, when their boss, Janet (Michole Briana White), asks them to drop off Josh’s wallet at his house.— Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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After the lecture, the audience was visibly pensive.— Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 19 Apr. 2026
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Big horizons meet daily realities as the instinctive Moon explores your pensive 9th house and squares Jupiter in your sensible 6th house.— Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But reflection on those few hours of celebration — that wild scramble to enjoy the moment, yet hurry to get everyone ready to go home — left the Dodgers envisioning one of the few things this contemporary dynasty has yet to accomplish.— Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2026
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McArn advocated for the contract by saying repeatedly that the district needed help helping itself — envisioning a partnership between the consultants and central office staff to better understand the problem and start implementing solutions.— Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Unabsorbed calcium leaves the body through stool, and absorbed calcium that isn't needed may be filtered by the kidneys and leave in urine—often within about a day.— Sarah Jividen, Verywell Health, 11 Mar. 2026
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The absorbed or scattered light creates a unique pattern called the spectrum, which is effectively the substance’s fingerprint.— Ambuj Tewari, The Conversation, 6 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Daydreaming.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/thesaurus/daydreaming. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
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