sunrise

sunrise — noun

1. the daily point in the early morning at which the sun becomes visible on the sky

1.nounB1
Definition

the daily point in the early morning at which the sun becomes visible on the skyline and daylight begins

Example

Jabari woke up before sunrise to catch the early train to Taichung.

before sunrise — time reference

In summer, the sunrise happens around five o'clock in the morning.

Common collocations
  • at sunrise
  • before sunrise
  • after sunrise
  • by sunrise
  • from sunrise to sunset
Synonyms
  • dawn

    a broader term covering the period from first light to full sunrise; more poetic in tone

  • daybreak

    slightly more formal and literary; emphasizes the start of daylight

  • sunup

    informal American English variant, less common in writing

  • first light

    refers to the earliest visible light before the sun itself appears

Antonyms
  • sunset

    the moment the sun disappears below the horizon

Common Mistakes

I woke up at the sunrise.
I woke up at sunrise.
'sunrise' does not take an article when referring to the time of day.
The sunrise rises at 6 AM.
Sunrise is at 6 AM.' or 'The sun rises at 6 AM.
'sunrise' is the event, not the thing that rises.

2. the changing colors, light patterns, and overall look of the eastern sky while t

2.nounB1
Definition

the changing colors, light patterns, and overall look of the eastern sky while the sun is coming up above the horizon

Example

The sunrise over the Pacific Ocean was a blend of pink, orange, and gold.

sunrise over [place] — location pattern

Renata painted a picture of the sunrise she saw from her hotel window in Hualien.

Common collocations
  • beautiful sunrise
  • spectacular sunrise
  • watch the sunrise
  • sunrise over
  • photograph the sunrise
  • colors of the sunrise
Synonyms
  • daybreak

    focuses more on the time than the visual display

  • morning glow

    informal phrase for the warm light just after sunrise

  • sunup

    informal American term, rarely used for the visual aspect

Antonyms
  • sunset

    the evening counterpart in both time and visual display

Usage Note

Commonly used with evaluative adjectives (beautiful, spectacular, colorful) and verbs of perception (watch, see, photograph). Unlike sense 1, this sense can be modified by an adjective: 'a beautiful sunrise.'

Idioms

Sunrise

idiom

a city in southeastern Florida, located just west of Fort Lauderdale, with a population of around 85,000

The Watanabe family moved to Sunrise, Florida, because of the warm winter weather.

The new shopping center in Sunrise opened last month near the Sawgrass Expressway.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Sunrise, dawn, daybreak, sunup, and first light all describe the beginning of the day, but they differ in scope and tone. 'Sunrise' is the most common and practical word — it names both the exact moment the sun appears and the general time around it. 'Dawn' covers a broader period: the gradual transition from night to daylight, including the dim light before the sun itself is visible. 'Daybreak' overlaps with dawn but is slightly more literary and dramatic. 'Sunup' is an informal American alternative to 'sunrise,' common in casual speech ('We'll leave at sunup'). 'First light' emphasises the earliest visible glow, often used in storytelling or adventure contexts ('They set out at first light'). In everyday use, choose 'sunrise' for schedules and precise timing, 'dawn' for atmospheric or poetic descriptions, and 'first light' for narrative settings.

dawndaybreak ↗sunupfirst light

Common collocations

Adverbs

Phrases

  • from sunrise to sunset
  • at the crack of sunrise

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

'Sunrise' was formed in English by combining the Old English word 'sunne' (sun) with 'risan' (to rise). The earliest recorded uses date back to the 13th century, when it referred literally to the daily event of the sun coming up. Before 'sunrise' became common, Old English used 'dægrima' (daybreak) and 'morgenréd' (morning red) for similar concepts.