predawn

American  

[pree-dawn, pree-] / priˈdɔn, ˈpri- /

noun

1. the period immediately preceding dawn.

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adjective

1. noting the time immediately prior to dawn.

Etymology

Origin of predawn

First recorded in 1945–50; pre- + dawn

Example Sentences

There were no predawn hikes or multicity tours.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 17, 2026

An attempted theft of copper wire on Tuesday led to a predawn barricade situation — inside a city manhole — authorities said.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 27, 2026

The sensitivity of the response to Maduro was evident in a predawn meeting two days after Maduro’s Jan. 3 capture.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 12, 2026

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said that "in two predawn operations today, the Coast Guard conducted back-to-back meticulously co-ordinated boarding of two 'ghost fleet' tanker ships".

From BBC • Jan. 7, 2026

By 4:30 a.m. we had to be standing outside in the black predawn chill, standing at parade attention in blocks of one hundred women, ten wide, ten deep.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom