Dream Meanings
People have looked for meaning in their dreams for thousands of years, and dream books in many cultures record the same recurring symbols. This dictionary collects 215 of the most common dream symbols, each with its traditional folklore interpretation, the variations people report most often, and the themes usually linked to it. These readings are folklore and entertainment, not professional advice. Browse the A to Z index below to find your dream.
A to Z index of dream symbols
A
B
- Babynew beginnings
- Basementthe subconscious
- Bathself-care
- Bathroomcleansing
- Batsintuition
- Beachrelaxation
- Bearstrength
- Bedroomintimacy
- Beeshard work
- Being Chasedavoidance
- Being Latemissed opportunities
- Being Lostdirection
- Being Naked in Publicvulnerability
- Bicyclebalance
- Birdsfreedom
- Birthdaynew cycles
- Bloodvitality
- Boatjourney
- Booksknowledge
- Bossauthority
- Breadsustenance
- Bridgetransition
- Buscommunity
- Butterflytransformation
C
- Cameramemory
- Carambition
- Car Accidentloss of control
- Catsindependence
- Caveinner self
- Cheatinginsecurity
- Childreninnocence
- Chocolateindulgence
- Churchfaith
- Climbingstriving
- Clothesidentity
- Cloudsthoughts
- Cockroachesneglect
- Coffeeenergy
- Computerthe mind
- Cookingcreativity
- Courtroomjudgment
- Coworkerscollaboration
- Crossroadsdecisions
- Crows and Ravensmystery
- Cryingemotional release
D
- Dancingjoy
- Darknessthe unknown
- Deathendings
- Debtobligation
- Demonsinner struggle
- Desertloneliness
- Diamondsenduring value
- Divorceseparation
- Dogsloyalty
- Dolphinjoy
- Dooropportunity
- Dragonpower
- Drowningoverwhelm
E
- Eaglevision
- Earthquakeupheaval
- Eggspotential
- Elephantmemory
- Elevatorrapid change
- Engagementcommitment
- Ex-Partnerunfinished business
F
- Fallinginsecurity
- Falling Off a Cliffrisk
- Familybelonging
- Fatherauthority
- Fightingconflict
- Firepassion
- Fishunconscious insights
- Floatingletting go
- Floodoverwhelm
- Flowersbeauty
- Flyingfreedom
- Fogconfusion
- Food and Eatingnourishment
- Forestthe unknown
- Fountainabundance
- Friendsfriendship
- Frogtransformation
- Fruitabundance
- Funeralclosure
G
- Gamblingrisk
- Gardengrowth
- Getting Firedfear of failure
- Ghoststhe past
- Giftstalents
- Goldvalue
- Graduationachievement
- Grandmotherwisdom
- Graveyardthe past
- Gunpower
H
I
J
K
L
- Ladderascent
- Laketranquility
- Laughingjoy
- Letters and Mailmessages
- Librarywisdom
- Lightclarity
- Lioncourage
- Locked In and Locked Outexclusion
- Losing Hairaging
- Losing Thingsloss
- Lost Walletidentity
M
- Mapguidance
- Mazeconfusion
- Milknurturing
- Mirrorself-reflection
- Moneyself-worth
- Monkeyplayfulness
- Monstersfear
- Moonintuition
- Mothernurturing
- Mountainchallenge
- Moving Housetransition
- Mudfeeling stuck
- Murderendings
- Musicharmony
O
P
- Packing and Luggagepreparation
- Partycelebration
- Pen and Writingexpression
- Phonecommunication
- Policeauthority
- Pregnancycreativity
- Prisonconfinement
R
- Raincleansing
- Rainbowhope
- Rats and Miceneglected problems
- Restaurantnourishment
- Ringcommitment
- Riverflow of life
- Roadlife path
- Robotsroutine
- Roofprotection
- Ropeconnection
- Roseslove
- Runningfreedom
S
- Sandtime
- School and Examsperformance anxiety
- Scissorscutting ties
- Screamingfeeling unheard
- Sexunion
- Sharkthreat
- Shoeslife path
- Showercleansing
- Silverintuition
- Singingself-expression
- Sleep Paralysisfeeling stuck
- Snakeshidden threats
- Snowpurity
- Spidersfeeling trapped
- Stairsprogress
- Starshope
- Stealingdeprivation
- Store and Shoppingchoices
- Stormconflict
- Sunvitality
- Swimmingemotional navigation
- Swimming Poolcontained emotions
- Swordhonor
T
- Teethanxiety
- Thunder and Lightningrevelation
- Tigerpower
- Toiletrelease
- Tornadochaos
- Trafficfrustration
- Trainlife path
- Treasurehidden worth
- Treegrowth
- Tsunamioverwhelm
- Turtlepatience
V
W
- Walkinglife journey
- Wallobstacles
- Warconflict
- Watch and Clocktime pressure
- Waterfallemotional release
- Weddingcommitment
- Wellinner resources
- Whaleemotional depth
- Windchange
- Windowperspective
- Winecelebration
- Winning the Lotterywish fulfillment
- Witchespower
- Wolfinstinct
- Work and Officepressure
- Wormshumility
Z
Frequently asked questions
Where do these dream meanings come from?
They come from dream folklore: the interpretations recorded in traditional dream books across many cultures over centuries. They are shared cultural stories about what dreams might symbolize, not scientific findings.
Can dreams predict the future?
Traditional dream folklore sometimes treats vivid dreams as omens, but these are old cultural beliefs, not reliable predictions. Most dream books read symbols as reflections of current feelings and situations.
Why do I keep dreaming about the same thing?
Folklore often reads recurring dreams as an unresolved thought or feeling returning for attention. Many traditions suggest looking at what is happening in your life when the repeated dream shows up.
What was that falling sensation right before I woke up?
That sudden jolt is widely reported, and folklore usually reads it as the mind's alarm bell during light sleep. It is one of the most common dream experiences in the world.