Dawn
/dɔːn/
Definitions
3 meaningsThe time when the first light appears in the sky; daybreak.
/dɔːn/
The first light of day.
The birds began to sing at dawn.
💡 Simply: Dawn is like the moment when the sun starts to wake up and the sky gets a little bit brighter. Like when you're still sleepy but the birds start to sing!
👶 For kids: When the sun starts to come up and the sky gets a little bit bright.
More Examples
We watched the dawn break over the ocean.
He always wakes up before dawn to go running.
How It's Used
"We woke up before dawn to start our hike."
"The dawn painted the sky with hues of pink and orange."
The beginning or start of something, especially a period of time.
/dɔːn/
The beginning of something.
The dawn of a new era was upon them.
💡 Simply: Sometimes 'dawn' means the start of something new. Like the 'dawn' of a new game or a new friendship.
👶 For kids: The start of something new.
More Examples
The dawn of the Industrial Revolution changed the world.
She felt the dawn of a new hope in her heart.
How It's Used
"The dawn of the information age changed everything."
"The dawn of the Renaissance marked a turning point in European history."
To begin to become clear to the mind; to occur to one.
/dɔːn/
To begin to appear or develop.
It dawned on me that I had forgotten her birthday.
💡 Simply: When something 'dawns' on you, it means you suddenly understand something. Like when you finally get the answer to a puzzle.
👶 For kids: When you finally understand something.
More Examples
The truth slowly dawned on him.
As I looked at the evidence, the solution began to dawn.
How It's Used
"It dawned on me that I had left my keys at home."
"Understanding dawned on them slowly."
Idioms & expressions
dawn on someone
To begin to be understood by someone; to become clear in someone's mind.
"It suddenly dawned on me that I had left my wallet at home."
at dawn
During the time of dawn.
"The military launched the attack at dawn."
From Old English *dagung*, a derivative of *dag* 'day'. The word originally referred to the daybreak or the beginning of a new day.
Used since Old English, primarily to refer to daybreak. Figurative use for beginnings emerged later, especially in the 17th century.
Memory tip
Think of the moment you first see the sun peek over the horizon.
Practice
Word Origin
Root: *dag-