fantasy
gb/fˈæntəsi/ us/fˈæntəsi/
B1
English
~ 2000
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
entity
1
An imagined situation or world
A picture or story in your mind about something that is not real.
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s fantasy about [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'fantasy' with 'imagination'; 'fantasy' usually refers to an unreal scene or story, while 'imagination' is the ability to think of such things.
Synonyms
daydream (Often lighter and more casual, usually about pleasant things.)
|
imagination (A broader term for the ability to create ideas in the mind, not just unreal situations.)
Antonyms
reality (The state of things as they actually exist.)
Collocations
childhood fantasy
|escape into fantasy
|fantasy world
|fantasy life
|pure fantasy
Themes
imagination
|entertainment
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- As a child, she often escaped into a fantasy where she was a famous singer.
- Winning the lottery is just a fantasy for most people.
- The novel takes place in a rich fantasy world filled with magic.
Learner examples
- I have a fantasy about living on the beach.
- He likes to read fantasy stories.
- In her fantasy, she can fly.
Noun
B1
entity
2
Fiction genre with magic or supernatural
A kind of story, movie, or game with magic or things that are not real.
Usage pattern:
fantasy [novel/film/game/story]
Synonyms
speculative fiction (A broader term that includes fantasy, science fiction, and other genres beyond reality.)
Antonyms
realism (A style of art or literature that aims to represent life as it really is.)
Collocations
fantasy novel
|fantasy film
|fantasy series
|fantasy game
Themes
entertainment
|literature
|arts_entertainment
Examples
- He loves reading epic fantasy novels like 'The Lord of the Rings'.
- The film is a mix of fantasy and adventure.
- Dragons are common creatures in fantasy games.
Learner examples
- I like fantasy books with magic.
- That movie is a fantasy with dragons.
- She plays a fantasy game on her phone.
Noun
B2
entity
3
Unrealistic hope or idea
A plan or hope that will probably not happen because it is not real.
Usage pattern:
[something] is a fantasy
Synonyms
illusion (A false belief or idea that deceives someone.)
|
pipe dream (Informal term for an unrealistic plan or hope.)
Antonyms
practicality (The quality of being sensible and realistic.)
Collocations
romantic fantasy
|political fantasy
|pure fantasy
Themes
emotions
|life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Thinking you can get rich overnight is just a fantasy.
- His political plan is pure fantasy.
- She had a romantic fantasy about moving to Paris.
Learner examples
- It is a fantasy to think I can fly.
- His dream of being king is a fantasy.
- That plan is only a fantasy.
Grammar
Dictionary form
fantasy
IPA
GB/fˈæntəsi/
US/fˈæntəsi/
Syllables & stress
fantasy (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (fantasy)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: fantasy
- Plural: fantasies, fantasy
Word family
Forms
fantasies
noun
Core family
fantastic
adjective A2
fantasize
verb
Related words
fantastically
adverb B2
Advanced or less common
fantastical
adjective
fantasist
noun
Expressions
escape into fantasy
1/ɪskˈeɪp ˈɪntu fˈæntəsi/
fixed phrase
Avoid reality through imagination
To forget about problems by thinking about unreal things.
Examples
- When stressed, he likes to escape into fantasy by playing video games.
- Some people escape into fantasy instead of facing their problems.
fantasy come true
1/fˈæntəsi kˈʌm tɹˈu/
fixed phrase
Imagined wish becoming reality
Something you wanted in your imagination that really happens.
Examples
- Meeting her favorite singer was a fantasy come true for Maria.
- Owning this house is a fantasy come true for me.
in a fantasy world
1/ˈɪn ə fˈæntəsi wˈɚld/
fixed phrase
Living in an imagined world
Thinking or acting as if things are like in an unreal story, not real life.
Examples
- He acts like he’s in a fantasy world where money grows on trees.
- Stop living in a fantasy world and face reality.