# crack of dawn

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/crack-of-dawn
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

The first moment of daylight; the instant at which sunrise begins.

## Examples

- We left for the airport at the crack of dawn.
- The farmers were already working in the fields at the crack of dawn to beat the midday heat.
- Despite the freezing temperatures, the determined hikers set off at the crack of dawn to reach the mountain summit before the afternoon clouds arrived.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.