variants
or less commonly pre-dawn
: existing or occurring before dawn
a predawn attack
the predawn hours
… the gigantic telescope started scanning the predawn sky.—
Howard Blum
Howard Blum
predawn
noun
or less commonly pre-dawn
plural predawns also pre-dawns
The most bone-chilling predawns create the sharpest sunrises.
—Christine Schultz
Christine Schultz
… stepping out into the quiet pre-dawn, closing the door.
—Bryan Burrough
Bryan Burrough
Examples of predawn in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Thousands of pilgrims walked here through the predawn darkness.
—Samy Magdy, Chicago Tribune, 15 June 2024
The encampment eventually was broken up in a predawn public safety action, after demonstrators reportedly began stepping up pressure by using increasingly graphic tactics, such as placing fake body bags on the lawn of a school official.
—Bill Laytner, Detroit Free Press, 3 June 2024
Storm coverage should increase gradually into the predawn hours, with one or more clusters of storms possible overnight into Thursday morning.
—Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 22 May 2024
In the predawn hours of Jan. 4, with many students away on winter break, a massive contingent of law enforcement officers converged on the park, for an hours-long operation, clearing out activists and encampments.
—Jessica Garrison, Los Angeles Times, 6 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for predawn 
Samy Magdy, Chicago Tribune, 15 June 2024
The encampment eventually was broken up in a predawn public safety action, after demonstrators reportedly began stepping up pressure by using increasingly graphic tactics, such as placing fake body bags on the lawn of a school official.
—Bill Laytner, Detroit Free Press, 3 June 2024
Storm coverage should increase gradually into the predawn hours, with one or more clusters of storms possible overnight into Thursday morning.
—Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 22 May 2024
In the predawn hours of Jan. 4, with many students away on winter break, a massive contingent of law enforcement officers converged on the park, for an hours-long operation, clearing out activists and encampments.
—Jessica Garrison, Los Angeles Times, 6 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for predawn
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'predawn.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near predawn
Cite this Entry
“Predawn.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/predawn. Accessed 4 Jul. 2024.
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