What does "dawn" mean?
The morning twilight period immediately before sunrise.
Dawn
/dɔːn/ name, noun, verb
name, noun, verb ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The morning twilight period immediately before sunrise.
- Grammar: dawn is listed as name, noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: daybreak, sunrise, break, break of day.
- Useful contrasts: approach of night, cessation, confusion.
- Usage evidence: I got along so well with the guy sitting next to me at the pub that we ended up drinking together till dawn.
How to use "dawn"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "dawn" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "dawn" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "dawn" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "dawn" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "dawn" is acting as name, noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "daybreak" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "dawn", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The morning twilight period immediately before sunrise. uncountable
- 2 the earliest period wordnet
- 3 The rising of the sun. countable
"Every act of a Roman, from birth to death, from dawn to night, was controlled and supervised by some presiding deity."
- 4 the first light of day wordnet
- 5 The time when the sun rises. uncountable
"She rose before dawn to meet the train."
Show 2 more definitions
- 6 an opening time period wordnet
- 7 The earliest phase of something. uncountable
"The dawn of civilization didn't imply twilight of barbarity."
Verb
- 1 To begin to brighten with daylight. intransitive
"A new day dawns."
- 2 become light wordnet
- 3 To start to appear or become obvious. figuratively, intransitive
"I don’t want to be there when the truth dawns on him."
- 4 become clear or enter one's consciousness or emotions wordnet
- 5 To begin to give promise; to begin to appear or to expand. figuratively, intransitive
"when life awakes, and dawns at every line"
Show 1 more definition
- 6 appear or develop wordnet
Proper Noun
- 1 A female given name from English sometimes given to a girl born at that time of day.
""Thomas, if it's a boy," she said, "after my uncle. But if it's a girl I'd like something fancy for a first name." "What about Dawn?" she said. "I like the sound of Dawn. Then Mary for a second name. Dawn Mary Parker, it sounds sweet.""
Example
"I got along so well with the guy sitting next to me at the pub that we ended up drinking together till dawn."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "dawn"?
Common synonyms include: daybreak, sunrise, break, break of day, cockcrow, dayspring.
How do you use "dawn" in a sentence?
I got along so well with the guy sitting next to me at the pub that we ended up drinking together till dawn.
How do you pronounce "dawn"?
Pronounced /dɔːn/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English dawnen, either a back-formation from dawnynge or a modification of dawen (“to dawn”) after it. The noun is from the verb.
Etymology 2
From dawn.