Definition

1. Verb (intransitive):
   • To indulge in fantasy; to create or dwell on pleasant but unlikely or imaginary scenarios in one's mind.
2. Verb (transitive):
   • To portray or imagine something in the mind; to create a mental image of something, often idealized or unreal.

Usage

• As an intransitive verb, "fantasise" describes the act of daydreaming or imagining pleasant, often unrealistic, situations.
• As a transitive verb, "fantasise" is followed by a direct object, indicating the specific thing being imagined or mentally constructed.

Examples

• Intransitive use:
  • After a long day, she likes to relax and fantasise about winning the lottery.
  • He is not being realistic; he is just fantasising about becoming a rock star overnight.
• Transitive use:
  • The author fantasised a world where animals could speak.
  • She often fantasises the perfect vacation home in her mind.

Advanced Usage

• "to fantasise about": This is the most common construction, used to specify the subject of the fantasy.
  • Many people fantasise about fame and fortune.
• Used in psychological or analytical contexts to discuss conscious or unconscious thought processes.
  • The patient's tendency to fantasise excessively was a topic of discussion in therapy.

Variants and Related Words

• Fantasy (n): An imagined scenario or series of mental images, often fulfilling a wish or desire.
  • His story is a work of pure fantasy.
• Fantasist (n): A person who fantasises, especially habitually or to an excessive degree.
• Fantasize (v): The standard spelling in American English. (This entry uses the British English spelling 'fantasise').

Synonyms

• Daydream: To indulge in idle fantasy.
• Imagine: To form a mental image or concept of something not present.
• Dream: To think about something hoped for or desired.

Related Phrases

• Live in a fantasy world: To be out of touch with reality, constantly indulging in fantasies.
  • You need to make a practical plan, not live in a fantasy world.
• Fantasy football/baseball, etc.: A game where participants act as owners to build imaginary teams from real players. (Note: This is a compound term listed here as a related concept, not as a direct usage of the verb "fantasise").

Verb

1. portray in the mind
   • he is fantasizing the ideal wife
2. indulge in fantasies
   • he is fantasizing when he says he plans to start his own company