make a dream come true

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "make a dream come true" is correct and usable in written English.
It means to turn a dream into a reality or bring it to fruition. Example: She promised herself that one day she would make her dream of traveling the world come true. After years of hard work and saving, she finally achieved her goal and made her dream come true.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

"We're about to make a dream come true," he said.

The New York Times - Sports

A lot of people who have traveled far to make a dream come true.

The New York Times

The expertise of Charles Moneypenny, an engineer for the city of Daytona Beach, helped make a dream come true for Bill France Sr., the founder of Nascar.

The New York Times

Since then, we've tried endlessly to make a dream come true for me, but the US is giving me a real fight.

The Guardian

It encourages employees to write down their "ultimate dream" on a ball and put it in a sweet dispenser – when the company hits its targets, they release a ball and "make a dream come true".

Independent

Brandin Cooks recently helped make a "dream come true" for a Rams employee, who received two Super Bowl tickets, plus airfare and hotel arrangements, from the Los Angeles wide receiver.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

Make-A-Wish Foundation Every 23 minutes, the Make-A-Wish Foundreamn makes a dream come true for a child with a life-threatening condition.

Huffington Post

Winning the Kentucky Derby makes a dream come true".

The New York Times - Sports

"I made a dream come true, and I am not a pervert".

The Guardian

In 2010, I made a dream come true: I moved to Byron Bay, New South Wales – back to my home country of Australia.

The Guardian - Travel

We propose making a dream come true for one lucky Indonesian, by providing an opportunity to meet POTUS during his visit.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "make a dream come true" when you want to emphasize the process of turning an aspiration into a tangible reality. It is appropriate in both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

While "make a dream come true" is a valid phrase, overuse can make your writing sound unoriginal. Consider using alternatives like "realize a dream" or "fulfill a dream" for variety.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "make a dream come true" functions as a verbal phrase. It signifies the action of transforming a desired outcome from a state of possibility into reality. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable status.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "make a dream come true" is a grammatically sound and widely used phrase that conveys the realization of an aspiration. It functions as a verbal phrase with a neutral register. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usability. While common in News & Media, its use can be diversified by considering synonyms like ""realize a dream"" or "fulfill a dream" to maintain originality. The phrase serves to express joy, satisfaction, and motivation, making it a versatile tool for communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

realize a dream

Focuses on the act of achieving or becoming aware of a dream's fulfillment.

fulfill a dream

Emphasizes the completion and satisfaction of a dream.

achieve a dream

Highlights the effort and accomplishment involved in making a dream a reality.

bring a dream to fruition

More formal, suggesting a careful and gradual development towards realization.

turn a dream into reality

Directly contrasts the dream state with the real world, emphasizing transformation.

actualize a dream

Focuses on making something potential into something real.

make dreams a reality

Similar meaning, but refers to dreams in plural, implying a larger scope.

see a dream realized

Highlights the experience of witnessing a dream becoming real.

witness a dream fulfilled

Stresses observing the completion of a dream with satisfaction.

bring aspirations to life

Similar to making a dream come true, but focuses more on actively creating a vibrant outcome.

FAQs

How can I use "make a dream come true" in a sentence?

You can use "make a dream come true" to describe the act of turning a long-held aspiration into reality. For example, "She worked hard to "realize a dream" and open her own bakery."

What's the difference between "make a dream come true" and "achieve a goal"?

"Make a dream come true" typically refers to a deeply personal and often long-held aspiration, while "achieve a goal" is more general and can apply to any objective, whether personal or professional.

Which is correct, "make a dream come true" or "making a dream come true"?

Both are correct, but they function differently in a sentence. "Make a dream come true" is the base form, while "making a dream come true" is a gerund or participle, used in continuous tenses or as a noun. For example: "Making a dream come true requires dedication."

What can I say instead of "make a dream come true"?

You can use alternatives like "fulfill a dream", "achieve a dream", or ""realize a dream"" depending on the context.