fantasize
Definition
- Verb (transitive):
- To imagine or create a detailed mental image of something, often something desirable or idealized.
- Verb (intransitive):
- To daydream or indulge in fanciful, often unrealistic, thoughts or ideas.
Usage
- As a transitive verb, "fantasize" takes a direct object (e.g., fantasize ).
- As an intransitive verb, it is often followed by the preposition "about" (e.g., fantasize something).
Examples
- Transitive usage:
- He often fantasizes a life of luxury and travel.
- She fantasized the perfect ending to her novel.
- Intransitive usage:
- He tends to fantasize about becoming a famous actor.
- She was fantasizing instead of paying attention to the lecture.
Advanced Usage
- "Fantasize over": To indulge in fantasy about something with a sense of longing or obsession.
- He would often fantasize over the vintage car in the showroom window.
Variants and Related Words
- Fantasy (n): The faculty or activity of imagining things, especially things that are impossible or improbable.
- Fantasist (n): A person who fantasizes, especially habitually.
- Fantasized (adj): Described or conceived of in a fantasy (e.g., ).
Synonyms
- Daydream: To indulge in a series of pleasant thoughts that distract one's attention from the present.
- Imagine: To form a mental image or concept of something not present to the senses.
- Dream: To indulge in daydreams or fantasies about something desired.
Phrasal Verbs / Common Constructions
- Fantasize about: The most common construction for the intransitive form.
- It's harmless to fantasize about winning the lottery.
Related Idioms
- Build castles in the air: To create unrealistic hopes or plans. (This idiom is a close conceptual synonym for the intransitive sense of "fantasize").
- He's not making a solid plan; he's just building castles in the air.
Verb
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portray in the mind
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he is fantasizing the ideal wife
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indulge in fantasies
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he is fantasizing when he says he plans to start his own company
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