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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
The carrier shut down before dawn May 2, failing to reach a deal with bondholders, including for a potential government bailout. — Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 2 Aug. 2026 The science and biology behind this issue has been well established since the dawn of time. — Jon Root Outkick, FOXNews.com, 2 Aug. 2026
Verb
The Crips and Bloods reached the apex of their Stockton influence in the 1980s and 1990s, Washington recalled, as the concept of fast money dawned along with the crack cocaine epidemic. — Luca Evans, Denver Post, 21 June 2026 Once airborne, though, a sense of infinity dawned out the cockpit windows, and of sheer mass behind the pilots. — Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 12 June 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
  • Staterooms are boutique-hotel luxurious, featuring king beds and private balconies for sunrise coffees.
    — Stephanie Orma, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • More than 40 weekly fitness experiences invite guests to move with intention, from sunrise yoga and Pilates sessions to high-energy strength and conditioning classes led by expert instructors.
    — Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 31 July 2026
Definition of sunrise
Noun
  • Asking how your home will be promoted, and whether it will be listed in the MLS from the very beginning, can help ensure your property has the strongest possible start.
    — Heartland MLS®, Kansas City Star, 22 July 2026
  • The Bundesliga had only begun in 1963, marking the true beginning of professionalism.
    — James Pearce, New York Times, 22 July 2026
Definition of beginning
Verb
  • Add in Oracle and sovereign-scale projects like Stargate, and the buildout starts to resemble a national infrastructure program more than a corporate capex cycle.
    — Michael Wee, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026
  • On Sunday, authorities said one man was arrested on Kefalonia on suspicion of having started a fire that spread quickly in the southeastern part of the island, triggering the evacuation of nearby villages.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of start
Noun
  • 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
  • Ever enterprising, Toha does eventually make her way back to the party, but there, the ultimate dawning of her place outside of Nelly’s circle is heartbreaking.
    — Alissa Simon, Variety, 25 Feb. 2026
Definition of dawning
Noun
  • Since its inception, more than 160 productions have been staged, reaching more than 6 million people.
    — Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 31 July 2026
  • Gilroy’s multi-ethnic roots, however, begin at its inception, when Scotsman John Gilroy became the first English-speaking settler of California, married Maria Clara Ortega – the daughter of a Spanish rancher, and then became a Mexican citizen.
    — Luis Melecio-Zambrano, Mercury News, 31 July 2026
Definition of inception
Verb
  • Joe Mack and Xavier Edwards added RBI singles later in the fifth for the Marlins, who began the day 2 1/2 games behind Philadelphia and Arizona for the final two NL playoff spots.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 1 Aug. 2026
  • The festival began as a seasonal attraction but has grown into a Kansas City-area family tradition centered on education and close encounters with butterflies.
    — Sophia Buonpane, Kansas City Star, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of begin
Noun
  • The most recent National Climate Assessment, released by the federal government in 2023, warned most of Georgia will likely see between 10 and 40 more days with temperatures of at least 95 degrees by midcentury.
    — Drew Kann, AJC.com, 4 Aug. 2026
  • In other words, everyone is having a hectic day — except for Joy.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of day
Noun
  • That was, until she was diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson’s disease at 34 years old.
    — WUFT News, Miami Herald, 29 July 2026
  • But since Tusker’s early-onset dementia diagnosis their lives have changed forever.
    — Alex Ritman, Variety, 29 July 2026
Definition of onset

Phrases Containing dawn

Browse Nearby Words

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 4 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on dawn

Nglish: Translation of dawn for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about dawn

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