when the sun rises

USAGE SUMMARY

"when the sun rises" is correct and usable in written English
You can use it any time you're referring to the sun coming up, usually in the morning. For example: "I always enjoy watching the sunrise, when the sun rises in the sky and the birds start singing."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

So, using local time it is theoretically easy to figure out when the Sun rises.

Cornell University

When the sun rises and the weekend rolls around, usually, he is there.

The New Yorker

"Only on mornings when the sun rises in the East," he joked.

The New Yorker

In the morning, when the sun rises, the light shines off the crystals.

The New York Times

"They go out to the fields when the sun rises and return home when the sun goes down," she said.

The New York Times

In a city where a proper night ends when the sun rises, this restriction presented a real problem.

The New York Times - Travel

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

6 human-written examples

When the sun rose on May 21, they were taken aback.

The Washington Post

When the sun rose, the breeze dropped off to almost nothing.

The New York Times - Sports

What is next?" But when the sun rose in the morning, she knew what to do.

The Guardian - Sport

We all lay down, and when the sun rose he had already died.

The New Yorker

When the sun rose on Sunday, Ms. Melancio and others went to the house, but her co-worker was gone.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "when the sun rises" to set a scene, mark the beginning of a new day, or indicate a time for specific activities. It adds a natural and universally understood temporal marker to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "when the sun rises" too frequently in a short passage, as it can make your writing sound repetitive. Vary your descriptions of dawn with alternatives like "at sunrise" or "as day breaks" to maintain reader interest.

Linguistic Context

Adverbial clause of time, modifying a verb in the main clause to indicate when an action occurs. This is shown across Ludwig's examples, with the phrase setting a temporal context for events.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Academia

9%

Science

6%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "when the sun rises" functions as an adverbial clause of time, setting a temporal context for events. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and widely used. The phrase is particularly common in News & Media and academic contexts, reflecting its versatility and broad applicability. For stylistic variation, alternatives like "at sunrise" or "as day breaks" can be used to avoid repetition. Remember that the opposite of rise is raise, which changes the meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at sunrise

Focuses on the specific moment of the sun's appearance, simplifying the original phrase.

at dawn

Emphasizes the beginning of daylight, synonymous with the sun's initial appearance.

as day breaks

Describes the gradual onset of daylight, a more poetic rendering.

when day dawns

Similar to "as day breaks", this highlights the start of the day.

with the sunrise

Directly links an event or activity to the rising of the sun.

at first light

Highlights the initial appearance of sunlight, emphasizing visibility.

as the morning begins

Indicates the starting phase of the morning period.

at the crack of dawn

An idiom for the very early morning, around sunrise.

when daylight appears

Focuses on the visual aspect of light emerging in the morning.

upon daybreak

A more formal way of saying at dawn, referring to the beginning of the day.

FAQs

What does "when the sun rises" mean?

The phrase "when the sun rises" refers to the time each morning when the sun appears above the horizon, marking the start of a new day.

What can I say instead of "when the sun rises"?

You can use alternatives like "at sunrise", "at dawn", or "as day breaks" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "when the sun raises"?

No, the correct phrase is "when the sun rises". "Raise" means to lift something else, while "rise" means to ascend or get up. The sun rises on its own.

How do I calculate the exact time "when the sun rises"?

The precise time "when the sun rises" varies depending on your location and the time of year. You can find this information through online sunrise calculators or weather websites.