sunrise

noun

sun·​rise ˈsən-ˌrīz 

1

: the apparent rising of the sun above the horizon

also : the accompanying atmospheric effects

2

: the time when the upper limb of the sun appears above the horizon as a result of the diurnal rotation of the earth

Synonyms

• day
• dawn
• morning
• morn
• dawning
• daybreak
• daylight

Examples of sunrise in a Sentence

We were up before sunrise.

We worked from sunrise to sunset.

We watched the sunrise from the beach.

the pink light of sunrise

Recent Examples on the Web

Wake early this morning — about 45 minutes before sunrise — and look east-northeast for one of the loveliest sky scenes of the month. —Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025

Flags will be at half-staff through sunrise on Monday, July 14. —Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 July 2025

The mask fully blocks out the harsh cabin lighting and that inevitable sunrise glow before landing. —Samantha Leal, Travel + Leisure, 10 July 2025

The couple went out for a sunrise stroll in the middle of a lavender field in Valensole, a town in Provence. —Caroline Blair, People.com, 9 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing sunrise

• tequila sunrise

Rhymes for sunrise

• advise
• applies
• apprise
• arise
• assize
• baptize
• belies
• bitwise
• capsize
• chastise
• chordwise
• clockwise

Kids Definition

sunrise

noun

sun·​rise ˈsən-ˌrīz 

1

: the apparent rising of the sun above the horizon

also : the accompanying atmospheric effects (as color)

2

: the time at which the sun rises

Geographical Definition

Sunrise

geographical name

Sun·​rise ˈsən-ˌrīz 

city in southeastern Florida west of Fort Lauderdale population 84,439