American Dream
American Dream
Pronunciation
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "American Dream" is: /əˈmɛrɪkən driːm/
Syllable Breakdown
ə: (Syllable 1) The "schwa" sound, a soft "uh" as in about.
ˈmɛ: (Syllable 2) The stressed syllable with a short "e" sound as in met.
rɪ: (Syllable 3) A short "i" sound as in bit.
kən: (Syllable 4) An unstressed syllable with another schwa sound and a neutral "n."
driːm: (Syllable 5) A single syllable starting with a consonant blend "dr," followed by a long "ee" sound and ending in "m."
Word Form Variations
Since "American Dream" is a compound noun and a specific cultural concept, its variations are limited compared to standard verbs or adjectives:
Singular Noun: American Dream
Plural Noun: American Dreams (Used when referring to the varying individual goals of different people).
Adjectival Phrase: American Dream-style (Used occasionally to describe a specific type of aspirational lifestyle).
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition: The national ethos of the United States, characterized by the belief that any individual, regardless of their social class or circumstances of birth, can achieve success, prosperity, and upward social mobility through hard work, sacrifice, and risk-taking. It often centers on the attainment of homeownership, financial security, and a better life for one's children.
Synonyms: The land of opportunity, upward mobility, meritocracy, rags-to-riches ideal.
Antonyms: Social stagnation, class stratification, systemic inequality, the "Great American Nightmare."
Adjective (Attributive)
Definition: Describing something that embodies or pursues the idealized standards of American success and domestic stability.
Synonyms: Aspirational, self-made, quintessential, optimistic.
Antonyms: Cynical, defeatist, inherited, stagnant.
Note: "American Dream" does not traditionally function as a verb or an adverb in standard English usage.
Examples of Use
Here are several real-world examples of the term American Dream used across various media and public discourse:
Literature and Books
"The American Dream is that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement." (James Truslow Adams, The Epic of America)
"He had come a long way to this blue lawn, and his dream must have seemed so close that he could hardly fail to grasp it. He did not know that it was already behind him." (F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby)
"For many of the migrants, the American Dream was not a house with a white picket fence, but simply the right to work and live without the constant shadow of fear." (Isabel Wilkerson, The Warmth of Other Suns)
Newspapers and Online Publications
"The shifting nature of the American Dream means that younger generations are prioritizing flexibility and experiences over the traditional goal of homeownership." (The New York Times, May 2023)
"Rising costs of higher education and healthcare are leading many to question whether the American Dream remains accessible to those starting at the bottom of the economic ladder." (The Wall Street Journal, September 2024)
"For tech entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley, the American Dream is often synonymous with the 'disruptive' startup that scales into a global empire." (Wired, January 2022)
Entertainment and Media
Film: In the movie The Pursuit of Happyness, the protagonist's journey from homelessness to a successful career as a stockbroker is often cited as a cinematic personification of the American Dream.
Music: "They say this is the land of dreams / But it feels like a nightmare for most of us." (Common, "Black America Again")
Television: Shows like Shark Tank frame the pitch process as the ultimate modern gateway to achieving the American Dream through innovation and grit.
Public Discourse and Speeches
"The American Dream is not a sprint, it’s a marathon. It’s about the steady progress of a family over generations." (Barack Obama, Campaign Address, July 2008)
"We want an America that is the land of the American Dream once again—where if you work hard and play by the rules, you can get ahead." (Mitt Romney, Republican National Convention, August 2012)
In general public discourse, the term is frequently used in debates regarding immigration reform, with proponents arguing that "Dreamers" embody the very essence of the American Dream by seeking education and contribution.
10 Quotes Using American Dream
"The American Dream is that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement." (James Truslow Adams)
"I still have a dream, a dream deeply rooted in the American Dream." (Martin Luther King Jr.)
"That's why they call it the American Dream, because you have to be asleep to believe it." (George Carlin)
"I have spent my life judging the distance between American reality and the American Dream." (Bruce Springsteen)
"The American Dream belongs to all of us." (Kamala Harris)
"I am the epitome of what the American Dream basically said." (Whoopi Goldberg)
"For many, the American Dream has become a nightmare." (Bernie Sanders)
"To me, the American Dream is being able to follow your own personal calling." (Maya Lin)
"When we make college more affordable, we make the American Dream more achievable." (William J. Clinton)
"The American Dream I believe in is one that provides anyone willing to work hard enough with the opportunity to succeed." (Tammy Duckworth)
Etymology
The term American Dream didn't emerge at the founding of the United States; rather, it was coined during a time of great economic struggle.
The Origin
The phrase was popularized by historian and writer James Truslow Adams in his 1931 book, The Epic of America. Writing during the Great Depression, Adams wanted to capture an idea that was broader than just making money or owning a car.
First Known Use and Meaning
While the individual words had been paired occasionally in earlier newspapers, Adams gave the term its "soul" and formal definition.
Original Meaning: Adams described it as a "dream of a social order" where every person could reach their highest potential regardless of where they started in life. He specifically argued that it wasn't just about "motor cars and high wages," but about social dignity and the opportunity to be recognized for one's own merit.
The Struggle for the Name: Interestingly, Adams originally wanted to title his book The American Dream, but his publishers rejected it. They didn't think people would pay money to read about a "dream" during a financial collapse. He settled for The Epic of America but kept the phrase throughout the text, where it eventually caught the public's imagination.
Evolution of the Words
American: Derived from Amerigo Vespucci, the Italian explorer.
Dream: Comes from the Old English drēam, which originally referred to joy, mirth, or music, but evolved over centuries to describe a vision or an aspiration for the future.
By combining them, Adams created a shorthand for the belief that the United States offered a unique environment where a person’s future was determined by their hustle rather than their heritage.
Phrases + Idioms Containing American Dream
Here is a list of phrases and idioms involving the term American Dream, along with variations and synonymous idioms that convey a similar sentiment:
Phrases and Idioms Using "American Dream"
Chasing the American Dream: To work tirelessly toward a life of financial success and personal freedom.
The American Dream is alive and well: A phrase used to assert that upward mobility is still possible in the modern era.
Living the American Dream: A common expression used when someone has achieved a stable, prosperous, and happy middle-to-upper-class life.
A stake in the American Dream: Referring to the attainment of property or assets, particularly homeownership.
The death of the American Dream: A rhetorical phrase used to describe a perceived loss of opportunity or the decline of the middle class.
Deconstructing the American Dream: An idiom often used in academic or artistic circles to examine the flaws or myths behind the concept.
Related and Synonymous Idioms
Rags to riches: The classic idiom for a person who rises from extreme poverty to great wealth.
Pull yourself up by your bootstraps: To improve your situation through your own hard work without outside help.
The land of milk and honey: A metaphorical phrase for a place of abundant opportunity and riches.
Go West, young man: A historic idiom encouraging people to seek out new opportunities and "frontier" success.
Hang out your shingle: To start your own business, embodying the entrepreneurial spirit of the dream.
Keep up with the Joneses: An idiom describing the social pressure to maintain a lifestyle that matches one's neighbors, often cited as the "dark side" of the dream.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of American Dream from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
