Daybreak

/ˈdeɪbreɪk/

nounBeginner📊CommonGeneral
1 meaning2 idioms/phrases3 questions

Definitions

1

The first light of day; dawn.

/ˈdeɪbreɪk/

nounneutralBeginner
General

The dawn; the time when daylight begins to appear.

The hikers started their journey at daybreak.

💡 Simply: Think of daybreak as the time right before the sun fully pops up, when the sky starts to get lighter and you can see things a bit better. It's like the start of a new day!

👶 For kids: When the sun starts to come up in the morning.

More Examples

2

The birds began to sing at daybreak.

3

The daybreak illuminated the mist-covered valley.

How It's Used

Literary

"The poet described the daybreak as painting the sky with hues of rose and gold."

General

"We decided to leave at daybreak to avoid the morning traffic."

Nature

"The daybreak revealed a breathtaking view of the mountains."

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

Idioms & expressions

At daybreak

During the time when the day begins; at dawn.

"The soldiers began their march at daybreak."

To catch the daybreak

To experience the beginning of the day; to be awake and active at dawn.

"We woke up early to catch the daybreak on the beach."

From Old English dægbriċ, meaning "day's break" or the breaking of day. It combines "day" with "break."

The term 'daybreak' has been used in literature for centuries to evoke a sense of hope, renewal, and the transition from darkness to light. It's frequently used to denote the start of a new chapter or adventure.

Memory tip

Imagine the sun's light 'breaking' through the darkness to begin the day.

Word Origin

LanguageOld English
Original meaning

"dægbriċ - "day's break" or the breaking of day."

at daybreakbefore daybreakafter daybreakwith daybreaknear daybreak

Common misspellings

day break

Usage

40%Spoken
60%Written