# dawn

/ˈdɔn/ (US) · /dˈɔːn/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/dawn
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. the first light of day

noun · CEFR B1

the time in the early morning when light first appears in the sky, just before the sun rises.

For teachers: the period of first light in the morning, preceding sunrise; a relational boundary between night and day.

- The farmers were already out in the fields at dawn while most people were still sleeping.
- The expedition team planned to depart at dawn, hoping to reach the mountain pass before the midday heat made the climb more difficult.

### 2. the beginning of something

noun · CEFR B2

the very start of a new period of time or a new idea.

For teachers: the earliest stage or beginning of a particular historical period, movement, or phenomenon.

- The invention of the internet marked the dawn of a new era in communication.
- Historians often debate whether this specific treaty truly represented the dawn of modern diplomacy or merely a continuation of older practices.

### 3. to become light

verb · CEFR B2 · Literary

to start to become light in the morning.

For teachers: to begin to grow light as the sun rises. Intransitive use.

- The day dawned clear and cold after the storm had passed.
- As the day dawned over the valley, the mist began to lift, revealing the damage caused by the previous night's flooding.

### 4. to realize something

verb · CEFR B2

to suddenly understand something or realize a truth.

For teachers: to begin to be perceived or understood; typically used with 'on' or 'upon'.

- It slowly dawned on him that he had left his keys inside the locked house.
- It only dawned on the investigators much later that the witness had been describing a completely different vehicle.

Usage: Usually used in the pattern 'it dawned on someone that...'

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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.