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

But the slightly hectic pace created a palpable feeling of dawning revelation. —Richard Godwin, Travel + Leisure, 5 Feb. 2026

Not coincidentally Miami won its last playoff game — its last to this day — in the 2000 season just as New England’s rise was dawning. —Greg Cote january 26, Miami Herald, 26 Jan. 2026

Noun

As dawn broke over Northern California, ticket prices to today’s game appear to be falling — but are still more than $3,000. —Andrew Greif, NBC news, 8 Feb. 2026

Light switches, which have been self-explanatory since the dawn of electric lighting, apparently now come as an unlabeled multibutton panel that literally required a tutorial session from a technician. —Jason Fried, The Atlantic, 7 Feb. 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