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
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
Watching sunrises and sunsets over McLemore Cove and the Cumberland Plateau is a truly breathtaking experience.
—
Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 4 Feb. 2025
Lighting: Many of the newer clocks offer sunrise lighting and work as nightstand lamps or nightlights.
—Cheryl Fenton, Parents, 28 Jan. 2025
To stand the best chance of seeing the aurora later this week—and, also, in general—the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recommends looking skyward either just after sunset, or just before sunrise.
—Barbara A. Perry, Newsweek, 28 Jan. 2025
The enforcement agents departed downtown Chicago before sunrise and drove to Berwyn, a neighborhood on the outskirts of the city.
—Gabe Gutierrez, NBC News, 28 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for sunrise 
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Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 4 Feb. 2025
Lighting: Many of the newer clocks offer sunrise lighting and work as nightstand lamps or nightlights.
—Cheryl Fenton, Parents, 28 Jan. 2025
To stand the best chance of seeing the aurora later this week—and, also, in general—the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recommends looking skyward either just after sunset, or just before sunrise.
—Barbara A. Perry, Newsweek, 28 Jan. 2025
The enforcement agents departed downtown Chicago before sunrise and drove to Berwyn, a neighborhood on the outskirts of the city.
—Gabe Gutierrez, NBC News, 28 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for sunrise
Dictionary Entries Near sunrise
Cite this Entry
“Sunrise.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sunrise. Accessed 12 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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