false dawn

American

noun

zodiacal light occurring before sunrise.

false dawn British

noun

zodiacal light appearing just before sunrise

"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

Etymology

Origin of false dawn

First recorded in 1825–35

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

false dawn

But it looks like that tentative rebound was another false dawn for the cryptocurrencies.

From Barron's ● Jan. 9, 2026

Now he needs to deliver an even bigger gift in the shape of a clinical finisher who can ensure this win is not a false dawn in Arsenal's Premier League title challenge.

From BBC ● Jan. 15, 2025

The next week or so will show whether or not this is a false dawn with U.S. payrolls numbers due on Friday, U.S.

From Reuters ● Mar. 6, 2023

World Cup winner Di María pulled one back for Juventus three minutes before the break but that proved to be a false dawn for the Bianconeri.

From Seattle Times ● Jan. 13, 2023

Another squadron of German bombers appears on the crimson horizon, lit by the burning trees like a false dawn.

From "City of the Plague God" by Sarwat Chadda

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023