the American dream
noun phrase
variants
or the American Dream
: a happy way of living that is thought of by many Americans as something that can be achieved by anyone in the U.S. especially by working hard and becoming successful
With good jobs, a nice house, two children, and plenty of money, they believed they were living the American dream.
Examples of the American dream in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Bad Bunny’s halftime show was an inspiration for what the American dream can become.
—
Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 13 Feb. 2026
The host of 'Catching the Codfather' explains why his new podcast about a notorious fishing magnate is really about regulation, science, and the American dream.
—Abigail Wise, Outside, 13 Feb. 2026
Support for socialism and for figures like Mamdani primarily comes from young people who feel priced out of the American dream—owning a home, securing a stable job, and starting a family.
—Neetu Arnold, Washington Post, 10 Feb. 2026
Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show made waves with lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle with some touting him as representing the American dream and others condemning his show, performed almost entirely in Spanish.
—Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for the American dream
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Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 13 Feb. 2026
The host of 'Catching the Codfather' explains why his new podcast about a notorious fishing magnate is really about regulation, science, and the American dream.
—Abigail Wise, Outside, 13 Feb. 2026
Support for socialism and for figures like Mamdani primarily comes from young people who feel priced out of the American dream—owning a home, securing a stable job, and starting a family.
—Neetu Arnold, Washington Post, 10 Feb. 2026
Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show made waves with lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle with some touting him as representing the American dream and others condemning his show, performed almost entirely in Spanish.
—Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for the American dream
Cite this Entry
“The American dream.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20American%20dream. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.
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