dawned; dawning; dawns
1
: to begin to grow light as the sun rises
waited for the day to dawn
2
: to begin to appear or develop
a new era is dawning
3
: to begin to be perceived or understood
the truth finally dawned on us
Examples of dawn in a Sentence
Verb
They waited for the day to dawn.
A new age is dawning.
Noun
as dawn breaks over the city
Winter brings late dawns and early sunsets.
Recent Examples on the Web
Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 3 July 2025
The unofficial results suggest a victory for the opposition, leading millions of Nigerians to cling to the hope that a new day is dawning in the West African nation.
Folarin, played by Dìrísù, harbors his own hopes for a new Nigeria.
—Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 18 May 2025
Vali Nasr, Foreign Affairs, 19 Aug. 2025
To spot Mercury, look to the east in the hour preceding dawn.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 18 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dawn
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Verb
As morning dawned, the Brooklyn Democrat talked on, denouncing the cuts on Medicaid and food stamps in the bill as a crime against the American people.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 3 July 2025
The unofficial results suggest a victory for the opposition, leading millions of Nigerians to cling to the hope that a new day is dawning in the West African nation.
Folarin, played by Dìrísù, harbors his own hopes for a new Nigeria.
—Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 18 May 2025
Noun
The false dawn in relations with the United States after the 9/11 attacks convinced Iranian leaders that Washington would never be willing to accommodate revolutionary Iran.
—Vali Nasr, Foreign Affairs, 19 Aug. 2025
To spot Mercury, look to the east in the hour preceding dawn.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 18 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dawn
Cite this Entry
“Dawn.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dawn. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
dawn
1 of 2 verb
ˈdȯn 
ˈdän
1
: to begin to grow light as the sun rises
waited for the day to dawn
2
: to begin to appear or develop
a smile dawned on her face
3
: to begin to be understood
the solution dawned on him
dawn
2 of 2 noun1
: the first appearance of light in the morning
2
: a first appearance : beginning
the dawn of a new age
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