since dawn

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "since dawn" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate the time period starting from the early morning until the present moment. Example: "I have been waiting for you since dawn, hoping you would arrive early."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Cameramen had been planted outside since dawn.

The New Yorker

Dozens of construction workers had been toiling since dawn.

The New Yorker

He had been on the move since dawn.

The New York Times

Other agents and 50 local police had been staking out the building since dawn.

The Economist

He adds, helpfully, that he has neither eaten food nor drunk liquid since dawn this morning.

The Economist

It had been grumbling since dawn from the edges of town; booming, blaring imminent apocalypse.

The Guardian

Since dawn, members of the Mostar Diving Club have been petitioning passing tourists to reward their courage with a contribution.

Independent

Many had been up since dawn, rolling rice balls, filling containers with waffle batter, crimping pie crusts.

The New York Times - Food

Our appointment was for 12 but he always looked as if he had been waiting there since dawn.

The Guardian - Arts

It's the day of the Oscar nominations and Adam McKay has been up since dawn, making waffles.

The Guardian - Film

1937 Madrid Fate Hangs on Battle The fate of Madrid hangs on a bitter battle which has been in progress since dawn today [Feb.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "since dawn" to create a sense of immediacy or duration when describing events that started early in the day. For example, "The rescue teams have been searching since dawn."

Common error

Avoid using "since dawn" with future tenses. It refers to a period that began in the past and continues to the present, so use present perfect or past tenses.

Linguistic Context

"Since dawn" functions as a prepositional phrase indicating a point in time. As Ludwig AI confirms, it specifies the start of an action or state, extending from daybreak to the present. Examples show its common usage in describing events that began early in the day.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "since dawn" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to denote a time frame beginning at daybreak and continuing to the present. Ludwig AI validates its correctness and identifies it as primarily functioning in News & Media contexts. While versatile and generally neutral in tone, using "since dawn" effectively means avoiding future tenses and understanding its nuances compared to similar phrases like "since this morning". Its widespread appearance in authoritative sources underscores its reliability in various writing styles.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

from daybreak onward

More explicit about the start time being daybreak.

starting at sunrise

Specifies sunrise as the beginning of the period.

from the early morning

Broader, referring to the morning in general.

since the crack of dawn

More informal and emphatic.

from sunup

Informal and direct.

from first light

Poetic and somewhat less common.

since the break of day

More literary and descriptive.

after sunrise

Indicates a period beginning after the event of sunrise.

from the beginning of the day

More formal and less idiomatic.

since sunrise this morning

Redundant but emphasizes the morning.

FAQs

How can I use "since dawn" in a sentence?

Use "since dawn" to indicate that an action or state has been ongoing from the early morning until the present. For example, "The construction workers have been toiling "since dawn" to complete the bridge before the deadline."

What's a more formal way to say "since dawn"?

A more formal alternative to "since dawn" is "from daybreak onward". This phrase maintains a similar meaning while sounding slightly more elevated.

What can I say instead of "since dawn" to add emphasis?

To emphasize the early start, you can use the phrase "since the crack of dawn". This idiom suggests a very early beginning to the activity or state being described.

Is it correct to say "since this morning" instead of "since dawn"?

While "since this morning" is grammatically correct, "since dawn" specifically refers to the beginning of daylight. Using "since this morning" might include the hours before sunrise, depending on when the morning is referenced.