# dawn on

idiom

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

## Meaning

To occur to somebody; to be realized by.

## Examples

- It finally dawned on me that I left my keys inside.
- While walking home, it suddenly dawned on him that he had forgotten his anniversary.
- As the evidence mounted, it slowly dawned on the investigators that the suspect had been lying to them from the very beginning.

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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.