dawn on

/ˌdɔn ˈɑn/

Reviewed on

Type

Phrasal verb

Meaning

  1. To become clear to someone or to be realized by someone for the first time.

    • The real danger of the situation began to dawn on the hikers as the storm approached.

    • It suddenly dawned on me that I had left my keys inside the locked car.

How it's used

This means “become apparent to someone”

  • dawn on the passengers

Say “dawn on them.” Not “dawn them on.”

The full significance of the news began to dawn on the team.

Collocations

  • begin to dawn on
  • it dawned on me

Synonyms

  • occur to
  • strike
  • hit