dawn 1 of 2

noun

Definition of dawnnext
1
as in sunrise
the first appearance of light in the morning or the time of its appearance we stayed up talking until dawn

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in beginning
the point at which something begins the dawn of civilization

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

dawn

2 of 2

verb

ˈdȯn How to pronounce dawn (audio)
as in to start
to come into existence a smile dawned on his face as he got the joke

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of dawn
Noun
After the last percussive hit, a drum stretched and warped to sound a bit like a robot powering down, comes an ensemble of bell tones, rising like mist at dawn. — Andy Cush, Pitchfork, 31 Oct. 2026 Considering that deer live by their noses, Woods has a logical theory about why deer are most active at dawn and dusk. — Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 29 Oct. 2026
Verb
A day will surely dawn when those who sought refuge in the long shadow of American bullying—believing that mimicking the language of the mighty could shield them from the claws of power—will stand bare before the truth. — Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 24 Sep. 2026 Soyka Soyka wanted to open a neighborhood hangout in his Morningside neighborhood as the new millennium dawned in 2000. — Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 18 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dawn
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dawn
  1. sunrise
  2. beginning
  3. start
  4. dawning
  5. inception
  6. begin
  7. day
  8. onset
Noun
  • Cotton has opposed ending daylight saving for years, arguing that children would head to school before sunrise and commuters could face safety risks during the winter months.
    — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Sentiment flipped, however, and stocks roared back before sunrise with the Dow on track for one of its best days since April.
    — jillg366, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of sunrise
Noun
  • Little’s victory could be the beginning of another Republican sweep.
    — Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 4 Nov. 2026
  • In fact, Taylor’s playing at the beginning of the first set almost feels like a more angular take on early-’60s Money Jungle-era Ellington.
    — Levi Dayan, Pitchfork, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of beginning
Verb
  • Lukas Dostal started for the Ducks, but was chased after giving up three goals on 11 shots in the first period.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Rooms start at the deluxe category, which are still plenty sizable with a big balcony, both a shower and a bathtub, and a small seating area.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of start
Noun
  • Or the dawning in 1893 of the age of Wrigley and its Juicy Fruit gum!
    — Jeffrey Steingarten, Vogue, 25 Oct. 2026
  • The quiet moments, the grief, the slow dawning of realization that her husband had written this piece as a way of dealing with his grief and her anger.
    — Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Mar. 2026
Definition of dawning
Noun
  • From inception that tour’s financial sensibilities were wack — $100 million, $200 million, $300 million signing bonuses before a stroke was played.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Since its inception, in 2019, the torrid band Sweeping Promises has been a project about the act of creating.
    — Hilton Als, New Yorker, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of inception
Verb
  • Worth Girvan and Gaspar were virtually tied on election night Tuesday, but on Thursday Worth Girvan began pulling ahead as more mail-in ballots were counted.
    — Itzel Luna, Los Angeles Times, 7 Nov. 2026
  • The company announced that limited production is scheduled to begin in 2027.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of begin
Noun
  • Others charged registered to vote and cast their ballots the same day despite not being eligible, the DOJ alleged.
    — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Van Daalen said the business started with just three owners and two employees, with the owners working from open until close each day.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of day
Noun
  • This is a movie about selective memory, centered on a fortysomething film director named Shinpei (Kato Shinsuke) whose career has been prematurely halted by early-onset dementia.
    — Katie Rife, IndieWire, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Researchers from McGill University in Canada and the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom enrolled 96 adults between the ages of 18 and 45 who were living with obesity and early-onset type 2 diabetes.
    — Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of onset

Phrases Containing dawn

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dawdling
dawn
dawned
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Cite this Entry

“Dawn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dawn. Accessed 10 Nov. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on dawn

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about dawn

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