The phrasal verb "dawn on" is primarily used in informal settings, as it conveys the moment a person suddenly realizes or understands something they hadn't considered before. It is common in everyday conversations, narrative storytelling, and informal writing, illustrating a sudden insight or epiphany, often leading to a change in perspective or understanding. For example, "It finally dawned on me that I'd been misinterpreting the directions all along." While it's less likely to appear in formal academic or technical documents, the phrase may sometimes be employed in creative writing or informal speeches to engage an audience through relatable language. Its origins are metaphorical, likening the emergence of understanding to the gradual illumination of dawn.
B2
UpperIntermediate
1. To begin to be understood or realized by someone.
It didn't dawn on me until later that he was talking about me.
Suddenly, it dawned on her that she had forgotten to mail the letter.
As the conversation continued, it slowly dawned on him that he was in the wrong place.
