Dreamlike

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Dreamlike" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe something that has a surreal, ethereal, or otherworldly quality. An example is: "The landscape was dreamlike, with soft colors and hazy outlines." Alternative expressions include "ethereal" and "otherworldly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Location changes dreamlike, at whim; we are either in a mushroomy field in gorgeous countryside, or a Parisian room, or by a seashore or a graveyard.

The Guardian - Books

The result is an archetypal Surrealist image: arresting, dreamlike, sexually charged, amusing and upsetting.

The Economist

Related states of awareness may be distinguished from the dream experiences typically reported; these include dreamlike states experienced as a person falls asleep and as he awakens, respectively called hypnagogic and hypnopompic reveries.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Shanxi is a seductive book, a glimpse of a world of pagan custom that somehow endures against the odds, dreamlike and entrancing.

The Guardian - Arts

Where some of the above films are full of attack, this one is more dreamlike, but no less political.

The Guardian - Film

A work of art that exists only as an idea, documented in his scintillating, dreamlike drawings, it is arguably the first conceptual artwork.

The Guardian - Arts

Philip Reeve, author of Mortal Engines series and Cakes in Space My favourite second world war set book is Empire of the Sun by JG Ballard, a child's-eye view of war which is both startlingly unsentimental and weirdly dreamlike, it's not written for children but teenagers would enjoy it.

The Guardian

Later rooms display his wall-sized arrangements of film stills from the late 1980s, full of dreamlike juxtapositions and faces blotted out by his distinctive circle marks.Mr Baldessari attributes some of his experimentation to having grown up in National City, California, a suburb just north of the Mexican border and well beyond the reach of any art scene.

The Economist

Whether it is the description "you drag your shadow behind you/like it's a ladder" or the dreamlike evocation of someone who "wanted to rub his tongue on tree bark/and ask how it happened", these poems prevent "Love's Bonfire" from becoming too austere.

The Economist

Edmond's badly scarred back and possible telepathy are alluded to but never explained, and the film's woozy, dreamlike atmosphere is more art-house than multiplex.But even the early enigmatic mood won't prepare viewers for what comes next: a distant atomic explosion, which the characters experience as a snow shower of ash, signals the start of a third world war.

The Economist

Yet he seems to be declaring himself to two different women at once.Past, present and future, or different shades of past, elide in a dreamlike meditation on love and yearning.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "dreamlike" to evoke a sense of wonder, unreality, or altered perception. It's particularly effective in describing landscapes, artistic creations, or emotional states that possess a surreal or ethereal quality.

Common error

Avoid using "dreamlike" to describe something that is simply pleasant or relaxing. The term implies a departure from reality and should be reserved for situations that genuinely evoke a sense of unreality or altered perception.

Linguistic Context

The adjective "dreamlike" primarily functions as a descriptive modifier, attributing a quality reminiscent of dreams to a noun. As Ludwig AI explains, it conveys vagueness, insubstantiality, or incongruousness. Examples show it describing landscapes, art, and experiences.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Encyclopedias

34%

Science

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the adjective "dreamlike" effectively describes something resembling a dream, often evoking a sense of unreality, wonder, or altered perception. As noted by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically sound and versatile, finding common usage across diverse contexts such as news, encyclopedias, and scientific publications. When writing, it is crucial to reserve the term for instances genuinely characterized by a departure from reality, not merely for pleasant or relaxing situations. Alternative expressions include "dreamy", "surreal", and "ethereal", providing nuanced options to suit different contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Dreamy

This term is a more common and simpler synonym, directly implying a quality reminiscent of dreams.

Surreal

This word emphasizes the bizarre and illogical aspects, highlighting the departure from reality often found in dreams.

Ethereal

This suggests a delicate, light, and almost otherworldly quality, focusing on the beauty and intangibility.

Otherworldly

This emphasizes the sense of belonging to another world, different from our own, highlighting the unfamiliarity.

Unreal

This directly states that something is not real, emphasizing the disconnect from tangible existence.

Fanciful

This focuses on the imaginative and whimsical aspects, suggesting a creation of the mind.

Visionary

This implies a powerful and inspired imagination, often associated with prophetic or artistic visions.

Chimerical

This refers to something wildly fanciful or improbable, highlighting its unlikelihood and fantastical nature.

Illusionary

This conveys the deceptive nature of something that appears real but is not, emphasizing the trickery of perception.

Phantasmagorical

This emphasizes a constantly changing sequence of bizarre and fantastic imagery, often associated with dreams or hallucinations.

FAQs

How can I use "dreamlike" in a sentence?

You can use "dreamlike" to describe experiences or scenes that feel unreal, ethereal, or surreal. For example, "The landscape had a "dreamlike" quality, with its hazy colors and soft light."

What are some alternatives to using "dreamlike"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "dreamy", "surreal", or "ethereal" to convey a similar sense of unreality or otherworldliness.

Is it correct to say "a dreamlike state"?

Yes, "dreamlike state" is a correct and commonly used phrase to describe a condition where someone feels disconnected from reality, similar to being in a dream.

What is the difference between "dreamlike" and "dreamy"?

"Dreamy" often implies a pleasant and relaxing quality, while "dreamlike" suggests a more profound sense of unreality or altered perception. Something "dreamy" might be simply pleasing, but something "dreamlike" feels as if it's not quite real.