Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com
Definitions

dawn

[dawn] / dɔn /
NOUN
beginning of day
Synonyms
STRONGEST
dawning daybreak daylight morning
STRONG
aurora cockcrow light morn sunrise sunup
WEAK
break of day bright crack of dawn day-peep early bright first blush first light wee hours
Antonyms
STRONGEST
darkness sunset
WEAK
conclusion dusk end ending evening eventide finish setting sundown
NOUN
a beginning
Synonyms
STRONGEST
advent birth dawning
STRONG
alpha commencement emergence foundation genesis head inception onset opening origin outset rise source start unfolding
WEAK
outstart
Antonyms
STRONGEST
end
STRONG
completion conclusion death effect ending finale finish result stop
WEAK
dusk evening eventide setting sundown sunset
VERB
start
Synonyms
STRONGEST
loom unfold
STRONG
appear begin develop emerge glimmer initiate lighten open originate rise
WEAK
show itself
Antonyms
STRONG
close conclude decrease disappear end finish hide lessen terminate
WEAK
set

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

A French foreign ministry source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the couple left Iran at dawn Tuesday in a diplomatic convoy with the French ambassador and "are currently in Azerbaijan".

From Barron's • Apr. 7, 2026

Instead, I woke before dawn, as I had done every day for months, and walked the short distance to the hospital.

From Slate • Mar. 29, 2026

At the dawn of the 2025 season, we published a column with the headline, “What’s the future for aging Angel Stadium? It feels like an increasingly uncertain one.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 25, 2026

Foreign ministers from Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan gathered before dawn Thursday in Riyadh for talks aimed at finding a diplomatic off-ramp to the war in Iran.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 24, 2026

Only a silent, shadowy maze of tall trees, blocking out the dim light of dawn.

From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood

Vocabulary lists containing dawn

First-Name Basis: Words That Are Also Names

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

Beowulf vocabulary

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

Talk Like Shakespeare Day, List 2

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!