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
Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Jan. 2026
The dawning of light in this actor’s eyes breathes life into the old tale.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
On social media, some people even suggested this was the dawning of a new populist coalition of left and right.
—Chicago Tribune, Twin Cities, 30 Nov. 2025
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
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
Richard Godwin, Travel + Leisure, 5 Feb. 2026
Not coincidentally Miami won its last playoff game — its last to this day — in the 2000 season just as New England’s rise was dawning.
—Greg Cote
january 26, Miami Herald, 26 Jan. 2026
Season 1 had an ideal structure in the trio of obstacles engineered by Alexandre, dovetailing with Camille and Issei’s dawning acceptance of each other as allies instead of enemies.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 21 Jan. 2026
Advertisement These moves reflect a dawning recognition that the old assumptions underpinning global business have been shattered.
—Bobby Ghosh, Time, 18 Jan. 2026
What finally brought him back to reality, Daniel said, was his dawning realization of the growing weight of his decisions — most crucially, losing his job and income — and the impact of his crisis on his relationships.
—Maggie Harrison Dupré, Futurism, 15 Jan. 2026
Other countries around the world are taking notes as Australia explores new territory that some say mirrors safety evolutions of years past – the dawning realization that maybe cars need safety belts, and that perhaps cigarettes should come with some kind of health warning.
—Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 29 Nov. 2025
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
Noun
From the origins of the Yakuza, the dawning of chemical warfare, and FDR’s spy shops, the novel treks across World War II to the dawn of the Cold War.
—Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Jan. 2026
The dawning of light in this actor’s eyes breathes life into the old tale.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
On social media, some people even suggested this was the dawning of a new populist coalition of left and right.
—Chicago Tribune, Twin Cities, 30 Nov. 2025
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
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
But the slightly hectic pace created a palpable feeling of dawning revelation.
—Richard Godwin, Travel + Leisure, 5 Feb. 2026
Not coincidentally Miami won its last playoff game — its last to this day — in the 2000 season just as New England’s rise was dawning.
—Greg Cote
january 26, Miami Herald, 26 Jan. 2026
Season 1 had an ideal structure in the trio of obstacles engineered by Alexandre, dovetailing with Camille and Issei’s dawning acceptance of each other as allies instead of enemies.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 21 Jan. 2026
Advertisement These moves reflect a dawning recognition that the old assumptions underpinning global business have been shattered.
—Bobby Ghosh, Time, 18 Jan. 2026
What finally brought him back to reality, Daniel said, was his dawning realization of the growing weight of his decisions — most crucially, losing his job and income — and the impact of his crisis on his relationships.
—Maggie Harrison Dupré, Futurism, 15 Jan. 2026
Other countries around the world are taking notes as Australia explores new territory that some say mirrors safety evolutions of years past – the dawning realization that maybe cars need safety belts, and that perhaps cigarettes should come with some kind of health warning.
—Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 29 Nov. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dawning
Noun
-
During its approximately 30 days, which start Wednesday in North America, Muslims abstain from food and drinks from dawn until sunset.—
Yahya Salem,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
-
This year, starting Wednesday, Muslim families will fast from dawn to dusk, and mosques are opening their doors to neighbors each evening, not simply as a ritual but as a reminder that personal discipline and public responsibility are inseparable.—
Irfan Sarwar,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Also called The Mother Road, Route 66 stretches almost 2,500 miles and spans eight states, beginning in Chicago, Illinois, and ending in Santa Monica, California.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
15 Feb. 2026
-
But this outlook is beginning to change.—
Hadley Meares,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The second storm is forecast to touch down in the North Bay before spreading through the rest of the Bay Area around sunrise on Tuesday, Behringer said.—
Caelyn Pender,
Mercury News,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Rain could linger through the evening across the metro area but should clear by sunrise Sunday morning.—
Julia James,
Dallas Morning News,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The players could feel the former United and Wales winger starting to move up the gears.—
Andy Mitten,
New York Times,
20 Feb. 2026
-
The 6-foot-8 power forward played just five minutes in the first game against Houston before the break, scoring on two field goal attempts and one of two free throws, but he will be counted on to back up starting center Brook Lopez.—
Janis Carr,
Oc Register,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
For the second time in five days, an American figure skater with serious medal hopes could not meet expectations.—
Brittany Ghiroli,
New York Times,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Here, the gentle tide creeps back and forth as a soothing marker of the passing day.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Healthcare, arising healthcare costs, the farming industry struggling, food and housing continuing to be out of reach for many.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
-
The doctor tells you that your daughter has pneumonia, a complication arising in roughly 6 percent of measles cases, though some researchers suspect that the actual rate may be higher.—
Elizabeth Bruenig,
The Atlantic,
12 Feb. 2026
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
-
Don Lemon was arrested for covering anti-ICE protests inside a Minnesota church and is now commencing the best press tour of his life.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
3 Feb. 2026
-
In his late 20s at the time, Murdoch was commencing a staggering hot streak that would last roughly a decade.—
Elizabeth Nelson,
Pitchfork,
22 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dawning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dawning. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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