Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

pipe-dream

/ˈpaɪpˌdrim/

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: 4.16 in modern English

Syllables
pipe--dream
IPA
/ˈpaɪpˌdrim/
16
Scrabble Score
9
Letters
3
Syllables
7
Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To have a desire or idea which is unlikely to materialize, or to imagine a plan which is unlikely to work; to dream of a near impossibility.

Intransitive verb

Example Sentences

Etymology

From pipe dream (noun).

Regional Pronunciation

  • American English: /ˈpaɪpˌdrim/
  • British English: /ˈpaɪpdriːm/

Usage

Inflected Forms

pipe-dreams (present, singular) pipe-dreaming (participle, present) pipe-dreamed (participle, past) pipe-dreamed (past)

Homonyms

pipe dream

Questions

How do you pronounce pipe-dream?
The recorded pronunciation is /ˈpaɪpˌdrim/.
What does pipe-dream mean?
To have a desire or idea which is unlikely to materialize, or to imagine a plan which is unlikely to work; to dream of a near impossibility.
Where does pipe-dream come from?
From pipe dream (noun).

How to pronounce pipe-dream

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