Dream dictionary: Spider. What does a dream about a spider mean?
The spider is a weaver: in dream dictionaries it signifies patient work, a plan that is coming together, but also intrigue or someone who lays traps.
Ezostylia Editorial Team · dream lore and psychology of sleep · updated 31.10.2026
What does a dream about a spider mean?
The spider is a weaver: in dream dictionaries it signifies patient work, a plan that is coming together, but also intrigue or someone who lays traps. In former times it was said that a spider seen in the evening brings hope.
The most common variants of the dream
- cobweb: a matter that is entangling you, or a plan that is close to completion
- large spider: a powerful person, or a fear that has grown large in your mind
- a spider on your body: someone is getting too deeply involved in your affairs
- killing a spider: you will rid yourself of a source of anxiety
What psychology says
Fear of spiders is one of the most common phobias, so for many people such a dream simply reflects tension and a sense of threat.
In English-speaking tradition
In British and Irish folklore, killing a spider is widely considered unlucky, enshrined in the old rhyme "If you wish to live and thrive, let the spider run alive." Conversely, seeing a small spider — often called a "money spider" — running over one's hand is regarded as a sign of coming good fortune. Classic English dream books, including those in the tradition of the nineteenth-century penny press, typically interpret dreaming of a spider as an omen of industry and careful scheming, for good or ill. The spider also looms large in Anglophone popular culture through figures such as Charlotte in E. B. White's *Charlotte's Web*, reinforcing its association with wisdom, creativity, and the saving power of patient craft.
A question for yourself
What in my life is weaving itself together, and what is ensnaring me?
Write your answer down right after waking up. The dreamer understands a dream best; the dictionary is only a hint.
Is your dream different?
The dictionary gives general meanings. Describe your dream in your own words, and the AI dream reader will connect all its elements into one interpretation.
Describe your dreamOther dreams in the dictionary
All entries: Dream dictionary A–Z.
Frequently asked questions
What does a dream about a spider mean?
The spider is a weaver: in dream dictionaries it signifies patient work, a plan that is coming together, but also intrigue or someone who lays traps. In former times it was said that a spider seen in the evening brings hope.
Is a dream about a spider a bad sign?
The dictionary describes dreams as symbols, not predictions. The meaning depends on the emotions in the dream and on your situation; the same image can be a good sign or a warning.