“The sun came up at 6:24am — that's dawn.”
Usage Entry 1392 / 1605 60-second read
Dawn vs. Sunrise
The first light before the sun appears versus the moment the sun crosses the horizon.
The comparisoni
“The sun came up at 6:24am — that's sunrise. Dawn is the period before, when light begins to appear in the sky.”
The ruleii
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DAWN = pre-light. SUNRISE = sun appears.
DAWN is the period before the sun is visible — the eastern sky lightens. SUNRISE is the moment the sun's upper limb crosses the horizon. Dawn lasts; sunrise is instantaneous.
Memory aidiii
Remember it like this
Dawn first. Sunrise second.