dreamer

Dreamer is a noun with several related meanings. In the broad sense, a dreamer is a person who experiences dreams, either during sleep or as daydreams. The term can also describe someone who pursues imaginative or aspirational goals, sometimes with a sense of idealism or creative inclination. As a verb, dream can describe the act of having such thoughts.

Dreams that occur during sleep are sequences of images, emotions, and narratives produced by the brain, most often during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Scientists study dream recall, content, and potential functions such as memory processing or emotional regulation. Lucid dreaming is a phenomenon in which the dreamer becomes aware of dreaming and may influence the dream’s course.

Daydreaming is dreaming while awake, typically involving fantasies, plans, or reminiscences. A person who frequently daydreams may be described as a daydreamer, though the term can carry positive or negative connotations depending on context and social judgment.

In political and social discourse, Dreamers is a term with specific policy meaning in the United States. It refers to undocumented individuals who were brought to the country as children and who qualify for deferred action under DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals). The label signals advocacy for legal status and a pathway to permanent residency or citizenship. Debates about Dreamers often center on immigration, eligibility, and national policy priorities.

In culture, literature, film, and music, dreamer often denotes an archetype of the ambitious, imaginative figure who confronts obstacles in pursuing ideals. The term also appears in titles, organizations, and movements that emphasize creativity, reform, or social yearning.