ever dreamed of

USAGE SUMMARY

"ever dreamed of" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express something that you have imagined or fantasized about in the past. For example: I had ever dreamed of becoming a professional athlete.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Travel

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Everything I ever dreamed of, right?

The Guardian - Opinion

Neither of them ever dreamed of selling.

The New York Times

"Ever dreamed of opening up your own restaurant?

The Guardian

The job is everything Ashoke has ever dreamed of.

The New Yorker

Have you ever dreamed of becoming a writer?

The Guardian

Having everything you ever dreamed of is actually a curse.

The Guardian - Film

It was everything I had ever dreamed of.

The Guardian - Sport

He confessed that it was "everything I ever dreamed of".

The Guardian - Sport

It was all I've ever dreamed of in a dish.

The Guardian - Travel

And if you have ever dreamed of performing onstage with Ms. Sykes — and who hasn't?

The New York Times

But all I ever dreamed of was playing for Miami in the Orange Bowl.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "ever dreamed of" when describing a past desire that may or may not have been fulfilled. It adds a sense of reflection and wonder to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "ever dreamed of" in contexts that require a present or future tense. Instead, use "dream of" or "hope for" to maintain grammatical accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ever dreamed of" functions as part of a verb phrase, typically following an auxiliary verb like 'have' or 'had'. It expresses a past desire, aspiration, or fantasy. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable nature in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Huffington Post

27%

The Guardian

13%

Less common in

Vice

3%

Forbes

3%

BBC

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "ever dreamed of" is a common and grammatically correct way to express past aspirations or fantasies. According to Ludwig AI, it's used to explore personal goals and desires, adding emotional depth to writing. While versatile, it's best suited for neutral and descriptive contexts, and sources like The New York Times and The Guardian frequently employ it. Remember to use it in the correct tense and consider alternatives like ""always hoped for"" or ""longed for"" to fine-tune the meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

always hoped for

Focuses on consistent hope over time rather than a specific dream.

longed for

Emphasizes a strong and enduring desire.

aspired to

Highlights ambition and striving towards a goal.

wished for

Indicates a desire or hope, often for something less attainable.

fantasized about

Focuses on imaginative and often unrealistic scenarios.

envisioned

Implies a clear mental image of a desired outcome.

imagined

A general term for creating a mental picture or idea.

yearned for

Suggests a deep and emotional longing.

set my sights on

Highlights focusing one's attention and effort on achieving something.

had a vision of

Emphasizes a specific and often inspiring idea of the future.

FAQs

How can I use "ever dreamed of" in a sentence?

You can use "ever dreamed of" to describe a past aspiration or fantasy, as in "Have you "ever dreamed of" becoming a famous actor?"

What phrases are similar to "ever dreamed of"?

Similar phrases include "always hoped for", "longed for", or "aspired to", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is "ever dreamed of" grammatically correct?

Yes, "ever dreamed of" is grammatically correct and commonly used to express something one has imagined or desired in the past.

What is the difference between "dream of" and "ever dreamed of"?

"Dream of" generally refers to a current or ongoing aspiration, while "ever dreamed of" refers to a past aspiration, implying a sense of reflection or potential unattainability.