Dic: dawn on

• It gradually dawned on me that I still had talent and ought to run again.
• Then the chilling truth dawned on Captain Gary Snavely.
• Suddenly it dawned on me that they couldn't possibly have met before.

1. PHRASAL VERB △If a fact or idea dawns on you, you realize it. (= strike)

2. dawn on somebody [no passive] △if something dawns on you, you begin to realize it for the first time. | it dawns on somebody that…

..... Cobuild, OALD