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Definition of dawn

dawn

/dɔːn/
dawn

Plural:dawns
•
Adjective:dawnlike
•
Past Simple:dawned
•
Past Participle:dawned
•
Present Participle:dawning
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dawn Lexical Profile

dawn Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

The first appearance of light in the sky before sunrise; daybreak.

Example

"The fishermen set out in their boats just before dawn to catch the morning tide."


2

The beginning, emergence, or earliest stage of a phenomenon, era, or period of time.

Example

"The invention of the printing press marked the dawn of mass communication in Europe."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• verb

1

To become evident or understood by someone (usually followed by 'on' or 'upon').

Example

"It suddenly dawned on her that she had left the keys inside the office."


2

To begin to grow light in the morning; to start to appear (of a day).

Example

"Saturday dawned bright and clear after a week of heavy rain."


3

To come into existence or begin to develop.

Example

"A new era of space exploration was dawning in the mid-twentieth century."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for dawn

Word Origin & Etymology

Middle English dawen ('to become day'), derived from Old English dagian, from dæg ('day'), with the final -n adopted from the verbal noun dawning (under Old Norse influence).

Cite this Entry


Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Dawn. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/dawn
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