Word

dawn

noun C1

UK /dɔːn/

US /doːn/

Meanings

noun

the time in the morning when light first appears before sunrise

noun

the beginning of a new period, development, or era

verb

to become clear or understood; to start to be realized

Definition

Dawn is the time of day when light first appears in the sky before sunrise.

Dawn is the early part of the morning when the sky begins to brighten and a new day starts. It happens just before the sun rises above the horizon. In a more figurative sense, it can also mean the beginning of a new period or the moment when an idea becomes clear.

Examples

At dawn, the harbor was still, and the boats looked like dark shapes against the brightening water.
I set off at dawn to avoid the traffic and to watch the hills change color as the light strengthened.
By dawn, they had finished the overnight repairs and reopened the road to regular traffic.
It didn’t dawn on her until later that the email had been meant as a compliment, not a criticism.
When dawn came, you could finally see the storm damage clearly across the neighborhood.

Common mistake

Learners often confuse "dawn" with "sunrise"—dawn is the period before the sun actually appears above the horizon.