Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

pipe dream

/ˈpaɪp ˌdrim/

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.16 in modern English

Syllables: pipe -dream
IPA: /ˈpaɪp ˌdrim/

16

Scrabble Score

9

Letters

2

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A desire or idea which is unlikely to materialize, or a plan which is unlikely to work; a near impossibility.

Example Sentences

"I think that his plan to become a professional athlete is a pipe dream and that he should stay in school."
"Only a year ago it would have needed a "super-Micawber" to be optimistic that the railways would once again pay their way. But it was no longer a pipe dream that B.R. could make a profit, the way to do it was now clear."

Etymology

From pipe + dream, referring to the fantasies experienced when smoking an opium pipe. Compare Old English pīpdrēam (“the sound or music of a pipe”), which is formed identically but has a different meaning.

Word Breakdown

Root: *dʰrewgʰ-

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈpaɪp ˌdrim/
British English: /ˈpaɪp driːm/

Inflected Forms

pipe dreams (plural) pipedream (alternative)

Derived Forms

pipedreamed

Phrases

pipe-dream pipe-dreamer pipe dreaming

Frequently Paired Words

figment of one's imagination

Synonyms

castle in the air pie in the sky dream

Homonyms

pipe-dream

Questions

How do you pronounce pipe dream?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈpaɪp ˌdrim/.
What does pipe dream mean?: A desire or idea which is unlikely to materialize, or a plan which is unlikely to work; a near impossibility.
Where does pipe dream come from?: From pipe + dream, referring to the fantasies experienced when smoking an opium pipe. Compare Old English pīpdrēam (“the sound or music of a pipe”), which is formed identically but has a different meaning.

How to pronounce pipe dream

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “pipe dream”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈpaɪp ˌdrim/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “pipe dream”.
Repeat and practice — Say “pipe dream” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.