dawn
the first light of day
How often you will meet it
Rank 1,559 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 11,758 times across 175,160 chapters — 0.006% of every word in the library.
What it means
noun
- the first light of day also: dawning, morning, aurora, first light, daybreak, break of day we got up before dawnthey talked until morning
- the earliest period also: morning the dawn of civilizationthe morning of the world
- an opening time period it was the dawn of the Roman Empire
verb
- become clear or enter one's consciousness or emotions also: click, get through, come home, get across, sink in, penetrate It dawned on him that she had betrayed himshe was penetrated with sorrow
- appear or develop The age of computers had dawned
- become light It started to dawn, and we had to get up
dawn in real books
Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.
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He was stirring busily before the break of dawn.
The Heart of the Hills · John, Jr. Fox · Chapter 1
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Yet it broke his heart to see her weeping from dawn till dark.
The Yellow Fairy Book: The Grateful Beasts · World Traditions (Celtic, Norse, Asian & Persian) · Chapter 1
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He lieth still: he doth not move: He will not see the dawn of day.
Poems Every Child Should Know · Mary E. (Mary Elizabeth) [Editor] Burt · Chapter 1
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Meanwhile Odysseus was sitting up almost till dawn, listening to the history of Eumaeus, the swineherd.
The Odyssey of Homer · 751? BCE-651? BCE Homer · Chapter 1
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Dawn came at last and the two brothers looked out of Gluck's little window in the morning.
Famous Stories Every Child Should Know · Hamilton Wright [Editor] Mabie · Chapter 1