sunrise

noun

sun·​rise ˈsən-ˌrīz How to pronounce sunrise (audio)
1
: the apparent rising of the sun above the horizon
also : the accompanying atmospheric effects
2
: the time when the upper limb of the sun appears above the horizon as a result of the diurnal rotation of the earth

Examples of sunrise in a Sentence

We were up before sunrise. We worked from sunrise to sunset. We watched the sunrise from the beach. the pink light of sunrise
Recent Examples on the Web The main house packs in four bedrooms and four bathrooms, nearly all of which are blessed with 180-degree coastline views—from the sunrise at Palos Verdes peninsula and Catalina island, to the sunset over Point Dume and Channel Islands. James McClain, Robb Report, 21 Mar. 2024 By sunrise, temperatures should be down to the upper 20s to mid-30s. A. Camden Walker, Washington Post, 17 Mar. 2024 On the western side, where the sunrise occurs at a later clock-on-the-wall time, studies find lower wages and higher rates of cancer, suicide, and car accidents. TIME, 9 Mar. 2024 From sunrise to sunset, the faithful abstain from food and drink and focus on prayer. Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 8 Mar. 2024 Muslims will fast from sunrise to sunset, abstaining from food and drink. The Enquirer, 7 Mar. 2024 The latest tragedy to befall Fritch was compounded on Tuesday by the death of the town’s volunteer fire chief, Zeb Smith, who collapsed while responding to a house fire in town shortly after sunrise. Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2024 In Seattle, locking the clock on daylight saving time would push sunrise to after 8:30 a.m. for more than two months of the year—cancelling out the recent bell changes made by Seattle public schools. TIME, 9 Mar. 2024 Confidence: Medium Tonight: Clouds thicken even more into the night, with a sprinkle or shower possible during the pre-dawn hours, especially nearer sunrise. A. Camden Walker, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sunrise.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sunrise was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near sunrise

Cite this Entry

“Sunrise.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sunrise. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

sunrise

noun
sun·​rise ˈsən-ˌrīz How to pronounce sunrise (audio)
1
: the apparent rising of the sun above the horizon
also : the accompanying atmospheric effects (as color)
2
: the time at which the sun rises

Geographical Definition

Sunrise

geographical name

Sun·​rise ˈsən-ˌrīz How to pronounce Sunrise (audio)
city in southeastern Florida west of Fort Lauderdale population 84,439

More from Merriam-Webster on sunrise

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!