first light
compound.compound. the very beginning of the day when the sun starts to come up.
compound. the time of day when light first appears in the sky; dawn. Uncountable in its primary sense, often used in prepositional phrases indicating timing.
We need to leave at first light to beat the traffic.
The hikers woke up at first light so they could reach the mountain peak before the afternoon heat.
The scouts dispersed at first light, their silhouettes barely visible against the grey horizon as they began the search.
Usage
usually follows the preposition 'at' to indicate the time an action begins.
Teaching tip
contrast with 'dawn' (more common) and 'daybreak' (more literary); 'first light' often implies a specific moment of starting a journey or task.
Last updated August 2, 2026