B2noun2K

Nightmare

UK /["/ˈnaɪtmeə(r)/"]/US /["/ˈnaɪtmer/"]/

Definition

a dream that is very frightening or unpleasant

In simple words: A very bad dream that makes you feel scared or worried.

Examples

  • After watching that horror movie, I had a nightmare about being chased by monsters.
  • The project turned into a nightmare when the team missed the deadline.
  • She often wakes up screaming from a nightmare in the middle of the night.
  • His financial situation felt like a nightmare, with bills piling up everywhere.
  • Being lost in a foreign country can turn into a nightmare if you don't speak the language.

Usage notes

Use 'nightmare' to describe scary dreams or difficult experiences. It is usually neutral but can be used informally. Avoid using it in formal contexts.

Grammar pattern

nightmare + object

Memory hint

Sounds like 'night' + 'mare' — imagine a scary horse chasing you in your sleep.

Collocations

  • awful
  • horrible
  • terrible
  • have
  • suffer
  • suffer from
  • haunt somebody
  • plague somebody
  • nightmare about
  • awful
  • horrible
  • real
  • endure
  • face
  • live
  • be over
  • come true
  • scenario
  • vision
  • world

Synonyms

  • bad dream
  • terror
  • horror
  • fright
  • scare

Antonyms

  • dream
  • wonder

Common mistakes

  • Confusing nightmare with daydream.
  • Using nightmare in place of dream without context.
  • Mispronouncing it as 'night-mayer'.