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
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
The hair that would otherwise sprout from his postpubescent body has been replaced by the residues of fire—that Promethean symbol of dawning human specialness.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
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
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
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
-
Josh wakes up at the butt-crack of dawn to start work.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
20 Jan. 2026
-
Before dawn, several men passed the vehicle and stopped to film the wreckage.—
Oriana van Praag,
New Yorker,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Paramount+ Essential subscribers will be able to stream the show beginning Monday.—
Jordan Freiman,
CBS News,
11 Jan. 2026
-
After beginning as an unpaid intern with the Cleveland Cavaliers and landing a position as an assistant with Cleveland’s G League affiliate in Canton, Ohio, Skeeter’s career path also took him through Atlanta just like Lee.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
As the wildfire raged, residents were rushed out before sunrise.—
Amanda Starrantino,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
-
For them, being able to witness the sunrise at Christ the Redeemer and experience Brazilian culture firsthand made the celebration unforgettable.—
Ashlyn Robinette,
PEOPLE,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Here are the 100 best luggage deals to shop right now, starting at $10.—
Jasmine Gomez,
Travel + Leisure,
16 Jan. 2026
-
Keep scrolling for more worthwhile finds that are bound to win her seal of approval, starting at just $9.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
16 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
In a statement to CBS13, the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Office said Denair averages between two and three calls for service per day.—
Nina Burns,
CBS News,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Weeks before our big day, my parents repeatedly pressured and attempted to bribe me into signing away the rights to my name, which would have affected me, my wife, and our future children.—
Christina Dugan Ramirez,
FOXNews.com,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
But that changed in 2022 in a decision arising from another case involving a juvenile offender from San Diego.—
Teri Figueroa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 Jan. 2026
-
The court challenges kept that situation from ever arising.—
Andy Rose,
CNN Money,
9 Jan. 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
-
Indiana and Miami begin the semester on January 12, with Ole Miss commencing January 20.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
9 Jan. 2026
-
None of the arrests of the four individual plaintiffs in this case, on the other hand, were made in immediate anticipation of commencing removal proceedings, much less executing a final order of removal.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
2 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dawning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dawning. Accessed 22 Jan. 2026.
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