dawn

1 of 2

verb

ˈdȯn 

ˈdän

dawned; dawning; dawns

intransitive verb

1

: to begin to grow light as the sun rises

waited for the day to dawn

2

: to begin to appear or develop

A new era is dawning.

3

: to begin to be perceived or understood

The truth finally dawned on us.

dawn

2 of 2

noun

1

: the first appearance of light in the morning followed by sunrise

danced till dawn

at the crack of dawn

Almost before the first faint sign of dawn appeared she arose again …

—Thomas Hardy

2

: beginning

the dawn of the space age

Synonyms of dawn

Verb

• start
• begin
• commence
• arise
• originate
• appear
• be
• emerge

Noun

• sunrise
• dawning
• day
• morning
• morn
• daybreak

Examples of dawn in a Sentence

Verb

They waited for the day to dawn.

A new age is dawning.

Noun

as dawn breaks over the city

Winter brings late dawns and early sunsets.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Soyka Soyka wanted to open a neighborhood hangout in his Morningside neighborhood as the new millennium dawned in 2000. — Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 18 Sep. 2026

The dawning potential of generative AI promises to radically change how movies and TV shows are made. — Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 16 Sep. 2026

Noun

The Magdalena’s wetlands concentrate some of the country’s rarest endemics, and dawn is when the light is soft and the river is loudest. — Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Sep. 2026

Segafredo Segafredo L’Originale, a rousing Italian-style cafe and bar that also opened at the dawn of the millennium on Lincoln Road, lasted 26 years, until May. — Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 18 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, probably back-formation from dawning daybreak, alteration of dawing, from Old English dagung, from dagian "to dawn" — more at daw entry 1

Noun

derivative of dawn entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing dawn

• at the crack of dawn
• dawn chorus
• dawn horse
• dawn on
• dawn redwood
• from dawn to/until dusk
• pre-dawn

Rhymes for dawn

• aune
• bon
• bonne
• brawn
• chon
• con
• conn
• crohn
• drawn
• fawn
• gone
• hon

Kids Definition

dawn

1 of 2 verb

ˈdȯn 

ˈdän

1

: to begin to grow light as the sun rises

waited for the day to dawn

2

: to begin to appear or develop

a smile dawned on her face

3

: to begin to be understood

the solution dawned on him

dawn

2 of 2 noun

1

: the first appearance of light in the morning

2

: a first appearance : beginning

the dawn of a new age