Word
daybreak
Phoneticsday·break, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈdeɪˌbɹeɪk/
UK/dˈeɪbɹeɪk/
Uncountable noun Literary
Definition
n. the time in the early morning when light first appears in the sky. It is the very start of the day before the sun fully rises.
n. the first appearance of light in the morning sky; the beginning of daylight. Often used in literary or descriptive contexts to mark the transition from night to morning.
Examples
“The birds began to sing at daybreak.”
“The hikers woke up before daybreak to reach the mountain summit by sunrise.”
“As the grey shadows of night retreated at daybreak, the valley below was slowly revealed through a thin layer of morning mist.”
Examples
simple
“The birds began to sing at daybreak.”
contextual
“The hikers woke up before daybreak to reach the mountain summit by sunrise.”
complex
“As the grey shadows of night retreated at daybreak, the valley below was slowly revealed through a thin layer of morning mist.”
Usage
Often used with the preposition 'at' to indicate a specific time.
Real-World Examples
“SpaceX launched the $4.3 billion Roman Space Telescope shortly after daybreak aboard a triple-the-fire-power Falcon Heavy rocket from Kennedy Space Center.” “Water bombers were able to operate after strong winds blowing through the night eased at daybreak.” Etymology
From day + break.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/daybreak