crack of dawn
KRAK of DAWN
/kræk əv dɔːn/
The very beginning of daylight; very early in the morning.
Suggests a time before most people are awake.
The story behind the word. The 'crack' refers to the first break or opening in the darkness of night as the sun begins to rise. It has been used in English since the late 19th century.
Word relationships
- daybreak: 'Daybreak' is more literal and poetic; 'crack of dawn' is more common in speech.
- dusk: 'Dusk' is the time just before nightfall.
Commonly confused with
- sunrise: 'Sunrise' is the astronomical event; 'crack of dawn' is the time of day.
Collocations
- up at the crack of dawn
- awake at the crack of dawn
- before the crack of dawn
Example sentences
- "We had to wake up at the crack of dawn to catch our 6 AM flight." Travel
- "Farmers are often out in the fields at the crack of dawn to begin their chores." Farming
Memory hook
Imagine the dark sky 'cracking' open to let the light through. The sky breaks open.
When not to use
Do not use for 'early morning' in general (like 8 AM); it specifically means sunrise.
Fun facts
- The phrase 'at the crack of' can also be used with 'noon' in a joking way for late sleepers.
Related words
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.