break of day

American  

noun

1. dawn; daybreak.

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break of day British  

noun

1. another term for dawn

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break of day Idioms  

1. Dawn, early morning, as in We'll leave at break of day, as soon as it's light, or I feel as though I've been working since the break of day. This term uses break in the sense “burst out of darkness.” [First half of 1500s] A synonym from the same period is the noun daybreak.

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Example Sentences

For others, the break of day was like the atomic bomb test sequence in “Oppenheimer” — an irrevocable countdown leading to oblivion.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 23, 2024

The album’s title doesn’t just refer to the break of day; it was her mom’s name, too.

From New York Times • Sep. 5, 2021

One train leaves at midnight, the other at the break of day.

From New York Times • Dec. 1, 2016

Then he returned to his hotel, camera crew in tow, presumably not to emerge until the next break of day.

From The Guardian • May 1, 2016

J knew Renly would attack at break of day.

From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin