dawn

[ dawn ]

/ dɔn /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR dawn ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the first appearance of daylight in the morning: Dawn broke over the valley.

the beginning or rise of anything; advent: the dawn of civilization.

verb (used without object)

to begin to grow light in the morning: The day dawned with a cloudless sky.

to begin to open or develop.

to begin to be perceived (usually followed by on): The idea dawned on him.

Nearby words

dawes, dawes act of 1887, dawes plan, dawk, dawkins, dawn, dawn chorus, dawn horse, dawn on, dawn patrol, dawn phenomenon

Origin of dawn

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

SYNONYMS FOR dawn

1 daybreak, sunrise.

5 appear, occur, break.

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ANTONYMS FOR dawn

1 sunset.

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Related forms

dawn·like, adjectiveun·dawned, adjective

Definition for dawn (2 of 2)

Dawn

[ dawn ]

/ dɔn /

noun

a female given name.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for dawn

Shortly after dawn, there was another outbreak of deadly force.
France Mourns—and Hunts|Nico Hines, Christopher Dickey|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Andy Serkis, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes Do you want to be on the wrong side of history, Academy?
Oscars 2015: The Daily Beast’s Picks, From Scarlett Johansson to ‘Boyhood’|Marlow Stern|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Emily Kinney told me that Beth and Dawn understood and respected each other on a certain level.
‘Walking Dead’ Showrunner Scott Gimple Teases ‘Darker, Weirder’ Times Ahead|Melissa Leon|December 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But in another world, Beth stabs Dawn and she is bleeding and none of those other cops are helping her get to a doctor.
‘Walking Dead’ Showrunner Scott Gimple Teases ‘Darker, Weirder’ Times Ahead|Melissa Leon|December 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Do you think Beth knew what would happen if she stabbed Dawn with those scissors?
Exit Interview: The Walking Dead's Beth Tells All|Melissa Leon|December 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The flotilla—mother-ship, tugs and all—was out to sea long before the dawn.
World's War Events, Volume III|Various
The grey light of dawn faintly illumined this scene of carnage, and its pale, cold gleams mingled with the ruddy glow of the fire.
Annals of a Fortress|E. Viollet-le-Duc
It was resolved to attack the Dervish position at Kerma at dawn.
The River War|Winston S. Churchill
At dawn I found myself close by my own door, and the Spaniard fled towards the Atocha gate.'
Parisians in the Country|Honore de Balzac
At dawn on the 5th, the river was found by the West Australians to be held by the enemy.
South Africa and the Transvaal War, Vol. V (of VI)|Louis Creswicke

British Dictionary definitions for dawn

dawn

/ (dɔːn) /

noun

daybreak; sunriseRelated adjective: auroral

the sky when light first appears in the morning

the beginning of something

verb (intr)

to begin to grow light after the night

to begin to develop, appear, or expand

(usually foll by on or upon) to begin to become apparent (to)

Derived Forms

dawnlike, adjective

Word Origin for dawn

Old English dagian to dawn; see day

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Idioms and Phrases with dawn

dawn

In addition to the idiom beginning with dawn

dawn on

also see:

crack of dawn
light dawned