as in dawn
the first appearance of light in the morning or the time of its appearance
the cold, gray dawning of a wintry day
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in beginning
to come into existence
a smile dawned on his face as he got the joke
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dawning
Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 17 Sep. 2025
And yet, the dawning of light in Elordi’s eyes breathes life into the old tale.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 30 Aug. 2025
This is the dawning of the age of school choice.
—Stephen Moore, Boston Herald, 14 Aug. 2025
If the excitement of Lionel Messi’s 2023 debut in MLS felt like the dawning of a new era, Son’s welcome was a reminder that the league still has plenty of room to grow — even two years after the greatest player of all time landed on its shores.
—Paul Tenorio, New York Times, 10 Aug. 2025
That rite-of-passage dawning hits harder than usual in light of the tragedy awaiting the family.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 10 Aug. 2025
Harmon Siegel, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2025
The series begins before Gein has ever killed, in 1945, as dawning awareness of death camps in Europe fills the air with sadism and conspiracy thinking.
—Daniel D'addario, Variety, 30 Sep. 2025
Jolie nonetheless manages to bring some palpable life to the role, complicating her otherworldly magnetism with a dawning dread and sorrow.
—Richard Lawson, IndieWire, 7 Sep. 2025
The Tennessee Titans had one of the worst rosters in football last season and went just 3-14 as a result, but with Cam Ward now under center, a new era is dawning in Music City.
—Matthew Schmidt, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Aug. 2025
Noun
As the sun rises behind the ELT, the image stands for the dawning of a new era in astronomical discovery.
—Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 17 Sep. 2025
And yet, the dawning of light in Elordi’s eyes breathes life into the old tale.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 30 Aug. 2025
This is the dawning of the age of school choice.
—Stephen Moore, Boston Herald, 14 Aug. 2025
If the excitement of Lionel Messi’s 2023 debut in MLS felt like the dawning of a new era, Son’s welcome was a reminder that the league still has plenty of room to grow — even two years after the greatest player of all time landed on its shores.
—Paul Tenorio, New York Times, 10 Aug. 2025
That rite-of-passage dawning hits harder than usual in light of the tragedy awaiting the family.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 10 Aug. 2025
Verb
The hair that would otherwise sprout from his postpubescent body has been replaced by the residues of fire—that Promethean symbol of dawning human specialness.
—Harmon Siegel, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2025
The series begins before Gein has ever killed, in 1945, as dawning awareness of death camps in Europe fills the air with sadism and conspiracy thinking.
—Daniel D'addario, Variety, 30 Sep. 2025
Jolie nonetheless manages to bring some palpable life to the role, complicating her otherworldly magnetism with a dawning dread and sorrow.
—Richard Lawson, IndieWire, 7 Sep. 2025
The Tennessee Titans had one of the worst rosters in football last season and went just 3-14 as a result, but with Cam Ward now under center, a new era is dawning in Music City.
—Matthew Schmidt, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dawning
Noun
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Police fired teargas to disperse the crowd, after authorities declared a dusk-to-dawn curfew last week.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
29 Sep. 2025
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After graduating from college, Pendleton began her career as a cartographic engineer, designing and modifying maps at the dawn of the computer age.—
Jemma Stephenson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
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That means Swift incorporated a portion of the pop classic's composition into her version, in this case the melody and beginning chorus lyrics.—
Bryan West,
USA Today,
3 Oct. 2025
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Yet there’s nothing noticeable about him—brown hair, blue eyes, a chin just beginning to widen into adolescence—except the mix of fear and determination that shows when the camera zooms in on his face.—
Gershom Gorenberg,
The Atlantic,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The Miami Heat’s three-time All-Star center is up before sunrise to prepare for training camp practices at Florida Atlantic University this week and finds himself up later than usual when Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson has a game.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
2 Oct. 2025
-
The heat was there before the sunrise had opened the showdown.—
Kevin Coulson,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Everton appear locked in a cycle where their starting No 9 flatters to deceive, is left out for the next game, but then the replacement fares little better.—
Patrick Boyland,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025
-
Around her, the rooms were starting to fill up.—
Ashley Hiruko,
ProPublica,
6 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Defense Ministry figures suggest that May 2025 saw a highwater mark for Ukrainian drone attacks, with Moscow claiming to have shot down 3,611 craft at an average rate of 116 per day.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
1 Oct. 2025
-
The President and his allies have also repeatedly asserted in recent days that Democrats are threatening to shut down the government to secure public money for undocumented migrants, despite the claim being widely debunked.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The number of people using the FAIR plan for fire insurance has increased dramatically in recent years as companies have pulled back business in the state due to losses caused by major wildfires arising from risks due to climate change and other factors.—
Stephen Hobbs,
Sacbee.com,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Clot formation is a health risk arising from sluggish blood flow through the veins.—
Bryant Stamford,
Louisville Courier Journal,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
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On the morn of Liberation Day, Trump called out four other Republican senators — Rand Paul, Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski and Mitch McConnell — for pushing back on his plan.—
S.E. Cupp,
New York Daily News,
2 Apr. 2025
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The light green safari shade is especially fun, or go for an aquatic vibe with the icy morn/sea wave two-combo.—
Rena Behar,
Travel + Leisure,
26 May 2023
Verb
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The case is scheduled to be heard in London’s High Court, commencing on October 28.—
Madeline Coleman,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
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The rebate checks were issued for three consecutive years, commencing in 1999.—
Robert Goulder,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dawning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dawning. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
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