sunrise

noun

sun·​rise ˈsən-ˌrīz 

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

Synonyms of sunrise

• day
• dawn
• morning
• morn
• dawning
• daybreak
• daylight

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

Chopper 2 flew over the scene before sunrise, where heavy flames and thick smoke were shooting into the dark sky. —Renee Anderson, CBS News, 10 Dec. 2025

Following a sunrise blessing ceremony on October 17, 2025, the aircraft completed its inaugural New Zealand takeoff from Tauranga before flying directly to Hamilton that same day. —Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 9 Dec. 2025

The northern lights are usually best observed from just after sunset or just before sunrise. —Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2025

Book a stay at boutique properties such as The Bayview Hotel, which has 26 sunrise oceanfront suites, or the Balance Rock Inn, a 27-room Gilded-Age property with panoramic bay views. —Taryn White, Travel + Leisure, 8 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing sunrise

• tequila sunrise

Rhymes for sunrise

• advise
• applies
• apprise
• arise
• assize
• baptize
• belies
• bitwise
• capsize
• chastise
• chordwise
• clockwise

Kids Definition

sunrise

noun

sun·​rise ˈsən-ˌrīz 

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 

city in southeastern Florida west of Fort Lauderdale population 84,439