predawn

adjective

pre·​dawn ˌprē-ˈdȯn 

-ˈdän

variants or less commonly pre-dawn

: existing or occurring before dawn

a predawn attack

the predawn hours

… the gigantic telescope started scanning the predawn sky.

—Howard Blum

predawn noun

or less commonly pre-dawn

plural predawns also pre-dawns

The most bone-chilling predawns create the sharpest sunrises.

—Christine Schultz

… stepping out into the quiet pre-dawn, closing the door.

—Bryan Burrough

Examples of predawn in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Best viewed from the Northern Hemisphere, the ideal time to get outside and try to spot some of these luminous fireballs is in the predawn hours on January 4, according to NASA. —Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 1 Jan. 2026

In the predawn hours of November 16, the red glow of Mars will appear close to Jupiter in the eastern sky. —Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 31 Dec. 2025

Strong wind gusts have already impacted the Upper Ohio Valley through the overnight and predawn hours of Friday morning. —Trey Fulbright, CBS News, 19 Dec. 2025

The best viewing time is in the predawn hours, looking toward the north-northeast sky. —Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 15 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1883, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for predawn

• anton
• argon
• axon
• baronne
• baryon
• baton
• boron
• buisson
• bygone
• capon
• cardon
• chiffon