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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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
Dennis Perkins, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Oct. 2025
In June, 1952, Ebony announced that a new era was dawning.
—Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2025
The hair that would otherwise sprout from his postpubescent body has been replaced by the residues of fire—that Promethean symbol of dawning human specialness.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
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
As a woman whose dawning realization infests and wrenches apart her family, Collette turns in one of the most towering horror performances in memory.
—Dennis Perkins, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Oct. 2025
In June, 1952, Ebony announced that a new era was dawning.
—Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2025
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
-
The National Gallery of London is hosting the first major exhibition of 18th-century painter Joseph Wright, whose works captured the moral dilemma of scientific progress at the dawn of the industrial age.—
Brendan Ruberry,
semafor.com,
10 Nov. 2025
-
Yet, Longfellow, at the dawn of the Civil War, wrote of Revere’s journey as a call to arms, a rallying cry aimed at stirring patriotic sentiment among Northerners and a reminder that action by a single individual can matter.—
Karissa Waddick,
USA Today,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
But while the plants are generating increasingly widespread enthusiasm, dark events are beginning to overshadow the news.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Some Americans are beginning to see this month's SNAP food benefits restored.—
Jennifer Ludden,
NPR,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The east-west axis of the monumental structure was aligned with the direction of the sunrise on October 17 and February 24, leading Inomata to think that the monument might have acted as a ritual site during important days of the Maya calendar year.—
Katie Hunt,
CNN Money,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Sip cachaça or local beers inside as the club fills, then make new friends as the party spills into the street and conversations last until sunrise.—
Aaron Randolph,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
So commences a night of harrowing encounters and trauma both physical and mental, starting with Ron and Mike’s trip to meet Oliver at a bar after one of his shows.—
Ben Rosenstock,
Vulture,
10 Nov. 2025
-
Place water and rum in a small microwave-safe bowl and microwave on HIGH until starting to bubble, about 1 minute.—
Amanda Holstein,
Southern Living,
9 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Feel free to bring the kids, who can enjoy a kids' corner with arts and crafts, story times and more, as well as Teen Scene all day activities.—
Caroline Ritzie,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
12 Nov. 2025
-
Some families had to go without benefits for several days this month, Haynes said, and many federal workers in the Sacramento region are going unpaid in a season when the demand for food assistance always soars.—
Cathie Anderson,
Sacbee.com,
12 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The amplitude of gravitational waves arising dense masses (black holes and/or neutron stars) inspiraling into a low-mass black hole’s event horizon is the greatest in the known Universe.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
7 Nov. 2025
-
But, unlike Section 122, there’s no limit to the level or duration of tariffs arising from Section 301 investigations.—
Elisabeth Buchwald,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
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
-
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
-
Hands-down one of the most disgusting movies ever made (a compliment), the film finds the indefatigable slasher, who was decapitated at the end of Terrifier 2, reattaching his head and commencing his ritual slaughters.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Oct. 2025
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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
Cite this Entry
“Dawning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dawning. Accessed 17 Nov. 2025.
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