Meaning & use

dawn

noun·Everyday

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

See it in a sentence

We woke before dawn to catch the first bus into the city.

Birds began singing at dawn, well before the sun had fully risen.

A note on using this word

As a verb, dawn on someone means an idea or realization suddenly becomes clear to them.

Words with a similar meaning

daybreaksunrise

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

Another way to use it

2. verb

To begin to be understood or realized, usually after a delay.

It finally dawned on him that he had left his keys at the office.

Make it your own

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