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Glite Dictionary
🌅 First morning light 🌄 Beginning stage 💡 To become clear 🌅 To get light
to dawn

to dawn

57 3.6
To begin to be understood and become clear
  • verb
  • /dɔn/
translation icon : darse cuenta (de)
  • You know, something dawned on me earlier.
  • a dawning realization
  • suddenly it dawned
  • then it dawned

Human brains are not prepared for the information megaphone that is dawning upon your brains as a civilian.

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Examples

  • Only slowly did it dawn on her: the damned reporter would actually want to watch.

    Academic text (2007)

  • Then the meaning of his words began to dawn on me, and I felt sick.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • Eight years together, and this is all just starting to dawn on you?

    About Cherry (2012)

  • And then it dawned on me that I was not going home.

    Chris Williamson

  • And then it just dawned on us.

    2000 Mules (2022)

  • Then it dawns on me.

    White Terror (2020)

  • Soon, however, it dawned on me that no one would know better than the students themselves.

    Academic text (2008)

  • Why is today the first time it dawned on you to speak up about this change in plans?

    Fiction book (1992)

  • I came here because when I got that letter... it dawned on me that you and Ginger are the only family that I have left.

    Wolf Man (2025)

  • It finally dawned on me that I needed to take responsibility for my actions.

Synonyms

to click
vsto dawn
87 3.4

Suddenly become clear and easy to understand in your mind

is the initial process of understanding rather than an instant comprehension
to come home
vsto dawn
  • Informal
82 5.0

An idea or fact finally feels very clear and real to someone

is the simple beginning of understanding rather than deep emotional clarity
to get through
vsto dawn
74 3.1

To make an idea or feeling understood by someone

is the internal beginning to be understood rather than the act of communicating
to sink in
vsto dawn
  • Informal
59 4.1

To slowly understand and accept something

is the first coming into view rather than a slow full acceptance
to dawn on
vsto dawn
49 3.7

An idea or fact suddenly becomes clear to someone

is a more general start of understanding that may unfold slowly
to fall into place
vsto dawn
41 3.9

To become clear and easy to understand after confusion

is the initial appearing of clarity rather than a later tidy solution
to dawn on someone
vsto dawn
4.4

An idea becomes clear to someone, often suddenly

is the broader beginning of clarity or appearance rather than a sudden insight

Idioms

dawn to dusk
2 2.8

All day from sunrise until sunset

dawn of a new day
1 3.0

The beginning of a new time that offers a fresh start

dusk to dawn
1 3.5

From evening until morning

handbags at dawn
  • UK
9.8

A small, silly argument where people make a big show about a minor issue

to watch the dawn break
3.2

To look at the sky as the sun comes up

Phrasal Verbs

to dawn on
49 3.7

An idea or fact suddenly becomes clear to someone

to dawn on someone
4.4

An idea becomes clear to someone, often suddenly

Compounds

crack of dawn
  • Informal
19 3.2

Very early in the morning when the sun first appears

new dawn
3 4.0

A time that brings a fresh start after a long hard time

false dawn
1 8.3

A short sign of hope that later proves disappointing

dawn horse
  • Specialized
9.9

A small extinct animal like an early horse about the size of a dog with four toes

dawn redwood
8.3

A tall tree from China that grows fast and has flat green leaves and small round cones

How Clear

to crystallize
  • US
21 5.8
to sink in
  • Informal
59 4.1
to dawn
57 3.6
to occur
339 2.4

Surface Forms

dawn infinitive
dawned past
dawned past participle
dawning present participle
dawns third person singular

Etymology

Dawn also grew a figurative meaning from the image of light making things clear, so when something 'dawns' on you it 'becomes clear' in your mind.