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

As a woman whose dawning realization infests and wrenches apart her family, Collette turns in one of the most towering horror performances in memory. —Dennis Perkins, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Oct. 2025

The padel idea dawned soon after. —Alexandra Kirkman, Fortune, 29 Oct. 2025

Noun

Now the wetlands, woods, wildflower meadows and river views, which are managed and protected by River Fields conservancy, are open for the public to enjoy from dawn to dusk. —Maggie Menderski, Louisville Courier Journal, 26 Oct. 2025

Few images are more studied than Holly Golightly (Audrey Hepburn) at dawn before Tiffany’s, coffee in hand, reflection haloed in pearls. —Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 25 Oct. 2025

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