Dreamt or Dreamed | Definition, Difference & Example Sentences
Dreamt and dreamed are two different spellings of the past tense of the verb “dream,” used to refer to the act of experiencing thoughts or images while asleep or to the act of fantasizing while awake. The spelling tends to vary based on whether you are using UK or US English:
- In UK English, both “dreamed” and “dreamt” are commonly used.
- In US English, “dreamed” is standard (though “dreamt” is still acceptable).
Lionel dreamt/dreamed about a talking lamp.
When I was young, I dreamt/dreamed of becoming a famous musician.
Vanessa never dreamt/dreamed that she would be so successful.
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Dreamed up or dreamt up
Dreamed up/dreamt up is the past tense of the phrasal verb “dream up,” meaning “imagine” or “concoct.” It’s typically used to refer to an idea or plan that’s unusual or unlikely. It means the same whether it is written with the regular “-ed” ending or the irregular “-t” ending.
Naomi dreamt/dreamed up a crazy scheme for getting rich.
Other interesting language articles
If you want to know more about commonly confused words, definitions, and differences between US and UK spellings, make sure to check out some of our other language articles with explanations, examples, and quizzes.
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Sources in this article
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This Scribbr articleRyan, E. (October 10, 2022). Dreamt or Dreamed | Definition, Difference & Example Sentences. Scribbr. Retrieved October 17, 2022, from https://www.scribbr.com/us-vs-uk/dreamt-or-dreamed/
