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

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Bareilles is mourning a few things — the deaths of close friends, dreams of easy fertility, assumptions of female autonomy, the American dream — but the music soars, more often than not. Chris Willman, Variety, 29 Aug. 2026 Dolly Parton’s life story is, in many ways, the story of the American dream. Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 28 Aug. 2026 Features were usually to scale, to fit into the evolving broadcast clock—four to seven minutes being the sweet spot—but long-form documentaries did begin to both celebrate and question the American dream. Literary Hub, 26 Aug. 2026 Ensconced in their cozy Montecito mansion, the Sussexes are living the American dream. Chandler Tregaskes, Vanity Fair, 22 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for the American dream

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Cite this Entry

“The American dream.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20American%20dream. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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