Daybreak: meaning, definitions and examples

Use this word to refer to the moment when daylight first appears in the morning. It emphasizes the very initial light of the day.

• We set off at daybreak to avoid the midday heat.
• Birds start singing at daybreak.

This term is appropriate for referring to the early part of the morning when the sky begins to light up before the sun is visible. It can also metaphorically mean the beginning of something.

• The town was quiet at the crack of dawn.
• The new era dawned with the fall of the old regime.

This term refers specifically to the time when the upper edge of the sun appears over the horizon. It highlights the actual rising of the sun.

• We watched the beautiful sunrise from the beach.
• The sunrise was a breathtaking view.

Use this word to indicate the period from when someone wakes up until midday. It's broader and includes dawn, sunrise, and the hours following.

• We plan to have a morning meeting.
• The store opens in the morning and closes late at night.

Same as the first entry, when referring to the early morning light.

• He left the house at daybreak to avoid traffic.
• Daybreak brought new hope to the weary travelers.

Use when referring to the start of something in a general sense, can apply to time, events, or objects.

• The beginning of the book was very interesting.
• Let's meet at the beginning of the week.

Use when referring to the commencement of an action, journey, or project. This can be both physical and metaphorical.

• We planned to start the project next month.
• I was nervous at the start of the race.

Use when referring to the beginning of something, often something unpleasant like an illness or problem.

• The onset of winter brought cold and snow.
• She felt the onset of a headache.