dawn

¹

[dawn]

noun

1. the first appearance of daylight in the morning.

   Dawn broke over the valley.

   Synonyms: sunrise, daybreak
   Antonyms: sunset

2. the beginning or rise of anything; advent.

   the dawn of civilization.

verb (used without object)

1. to begin to grow light in the morning.

   The day dawned with a cloudless sky.

2. to begin to open or develop.

3. to begin to be perceived (usually followed byon ).

   The idea dawned on him.

   Synonyms: break, occur, appear

Dawn

²

[dawn]

noun

1. a female given name.

dawn

/ dɔːn /

noun

1. daybreak; sunrise

2. the sky when light first appears in the morning

3. the beginning of something

verb

1. to begin to grow light after the night

2. to begin to develop, appear, or expand

3. to begin to become apparent (to)

Other Word Forms

• dawnlike adjective
• undawned adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of dawn¹

First recorded before 1150; Middle English dawen (verb), Old English dagian, derivative of dæg day; akin to Old Norse daga, Middle Dutch, Middle Low German dagen, Old High German tagēn

Word History and Origins

Origin of dawn¹

Old English dagian to dawn; see _day

Idioms and Phrases

• crack of dawn
• light dawned

Example Sentences

Earlier this year, she urged people to "reconnect to nature and celebrate a new dawn within our hearts" in Spring, her social media video series on seasons.

From BBC

The group added that the dawn arrests, made hours before a media conference announcing more demonstrations, were an "unprecedented assault on free speech".

From BBC

Before dawn, he would pedal out there on an old bicycle, clearing weeds and feeding cows, the world silent except for the rustle of palm leaves.

From Los Angeles Times

"It suddenly dawned on me - it was a shooting."

From BBC

More than a celebrity, Rajinikanth's influence shapes the devotion of fans who line up at dawn with milk and garlands.

From BBC

Related Words

• dawning 
• daybreak 
• daylight 
• morning