the darkest hour is just before the dawn

/ðə ˈdɑː(ɹ)kɪst ˈaʊ̯əɹ ɪz ˈd͡ʒʌst bɪˈfɔː(ɹ)ðə ˈdɔːn/

proverb

The worst situation comes before a good one.

Meanings

proverb

alternative it is darkest before the dawn · alternative it is darkest just before the dawn

  1. The worst situation comes before a good one.

    “Sometimes the darkest hour is just before the dawn,” he said.

    2017 September 13, “Dispute over casino funds casts pall over falls”, in Niagara Gazette
    3 more examples

    While I'm far away from you my baby / Whisper a little prayer for me my baby / Because it's hard for me my baby / And the darkest hour is just before dawn

    1967, Ralph Bass, “Dedicated to the One I Love”, in The Mamas & The Papas Deliver

    “‘The darkest hour is just before dawn.’ I indulged myself in total chaos, ordering it made me get clearance again,” Sevdaliza said via email. Her debut album is set for 2017.

    2016 December 16, “A$AP Ferg Adds Intensity to Sevdaliza’s “That Damaged Girl””, in XXL Mag

    The New Day's downfall was a combination of bad storytelling and an ill-advised gimmick in a cynical era. But the overly positive group will be the first to tell you that the darkest hour is just before the dawn.

    2015 April 4, Alfred Conua, “Examining Why New Day Failed as a Babyface Stable”, in Bleacher Report

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 否極泰來 /否极泰来, 苦盡甘來 /苦尽甘来
  • 否極泰來 /否极泰来 (pǐjítàilái)worst situation comes before a good one
  • 苦盡甘來 /苦尽甘来 (kǔjìngānlái)worst situation comes before a good one
  • 柳暗花明 (liǔ'ànhuāmíng)worst situation comes before a good one
  • 烏雲背後是陽光 /乌云背后是阳光 (wūyún bèihòu shì yángguāng)worst situation comes before a good one
Finnish pimeintä on juuri ennen aamunkoittoa
  • pimeintä on juuri ennen aamunkoittoaworst situation comes before a good one

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with the darkest hour is just before the dawn

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Cite this entry
APA

the darkest hour is just before the dawn. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/the%20darkest%20hour%20is%20just%20before%20the%20dawn

MLA

“the darkest hour is just before the dawn.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/the%20darkest%20hour%20is%20just%20before%20the%20dawn. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “the darkest hour is just before the dawn,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/the%20darkest%20hour%20is%20just%20before%20the%20dawn.

Source: the darkest hour is just before the dawn on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.