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Prepositions after verbs

dream of vs. dream about

Dream of and dream about are both standard, but they can suggest slightly different meanings and styles.

Quick answer

What is the difference between dream of and dream about?

Use dream about for dreams during sleep or for thinking about a topic. Dream of often expresses hopes, desires, or imagination, although both forms can overlap.

I dreamed about school last night.
She dreams of becoming a pilot.
They dreamed about their holiday.
He dreams of a quieter life.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
dream about + topic

Talking about dreams during sleep

Dream about is common for describing what appeared in a dream.

She dreamed about her childhood home.
I dreamed about missing my train.
2
dream of + goal

Expressing hopes or ambitions

Dream of often refers to wishes, ambitions, or imagined situations.

He dreams of owning a restaurant.
They dreamed of travelling the world.
3
dream about + subject

Thinking often about something

Dream about can also mean thinking pleasantly or imaginatively about something.

She dreams about life by the sea.
Children dream about adventures.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
dream of
She dreams of success.
often expresses hopes, desires, or imagination
dream about
I dreamed about my old school.
commonly used for sleep dreams or topics of thought
dream of doing something
He dreams of becoming a doctor.
expresses ambition or desire
dream about doing something
She dreamed about moving abroad.
focuses on the imagined situation or sleep dream

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using of for ordinary sleep-dream topics only

Dream about is usually more natural for things seen during sleep.

✕ I dreamed of my maths exam last night. ✓ I dreamed about my maths exam last night.

Forgetting the preposition

Dream normally needs of or about before a noun or -ing form.

✕ She dreams becoming famous. ✓ She dreams of becoming famous.

Using about for strong ambitions in formal style

Dream of is more common for hopes and ambitions.

✕ He dreams about owning a castle. ✓ He dreams of owning a castle.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. She dreams ___ opening her own café.
2. I dreamed ___ my grandparents last night.
3. They often dream ___ life in the countryside.

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Frequently asked questions

Are dream of and dream about interchangeable?

Sometimes. Both can refer to imagined situations, but dream of is more strongly connected with hopes and ambitions.

Which form is more common for sleep dreams?

Dream about is usually more natural when talking about dreams during sleep.

Can I use dream of with people?

Yes. For example: She dreamed of her grandmother or He dreams of meeting the author.

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