Dreamy

Dreamy is an adjective with several related meanings built around the sense of a dream. It can describe something that resembles or evokes a dream—soft, hazy, or surreal in appearance or mood. In describing art, landscapes, or music, dreamy often suggests an atmosphere of gentle unreality, lyrical beauty, or tranquil fantasy, rather than sharp realism.

The term can also refer to a state of mind characterized by daydreaming or absent-mindedness, as when a person is “lost in a dreamy reverie.” In reference to people, a dreamy look or demeanor may imply softness, attractiveness, or otherworldliness, sometimes with romantic connotations.

In usage, dreamy is closely related to dreamlike, ethereal, or fantastical. Dreamlike emphasizes surreal or uncanny qualities; ethereal connotes delicacy and lightness. The word derives from dream, with the suffix -y forming an adjective; it has been in English since at least the 16th century.

Common collocations include a dreamy atmosphere, a dreamy voice, a dreamy color palette, or a dreamy performance. The term appears across literature, film, music criticism, fashion, and marketing as a non-technical descriptor.