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

"I thought I seen a police car... then it dawned on me the car ain't insured," he said in his interview with Gwent Police.

From BBC

It would take more than 15 years before the potential answer dawned on them.

From Los Angeles Times

The day dawned foggy, but the low blanket of mist that hugged the land the day before had lifted.

From Los Angeles Times

BBC News has been given access to the operation, including details of the suspects, their methods, and to dawn raids on 28 properties in London and Hertfordshire.

From BBC

Israel did not stop bombing: Palestinian health authorities said at least 67 people were killed in Israeli attacks since dawn Saturday.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• dawning 
• daybreak 
• daylight 
• morning