Definition

A person who daydreams or indulges in fanciful thoughts instead of focusing on reality.

Example

He was often seen as a woolgatherer, lost in his thoughts during meetings.

Conversation

I heard you’ve been daydreaming a lot lately.

Yeah, I guess I'm a bit of a woolgatherer sometimes.

It's okay to let your mind wander; it can be relaxing.

True! It helps me escape from the daily grind.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Woolgatherer → The word is formed from "wool" (from Old English *wull*, meaning the soft, curly hair of sheep) and "gatherer" (from the verb "gather", meaning to collect). A woolgatherer originally referred to someone who gathers wool, but it has come to mean a daydreamer or someone lost in thought, as if they are gathering thoughts like one would gather wool.

Memory Tip

Imagine someone collecting soft, fluffy wool — that's what a woolgatherer does. This helps you remember that a woolgatherer is someone who is often lost in their own thoughts, like gathering dreams.

Visually Confused Words