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Synonyms

dawning

American  
[daw-ning] / ˈdɔ nɪŋ /

noun

  1. daybreak; dawn.

  2. beginning; start.

    the dawning of the space age.

Other Word Forms

  • undawning adjective

Etymology

Origin of dawning

Middle English; see dawn, -ing 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Graham Burnett, a history professor at Princeton University, sees "the dawning of an authentic movement," similar to the birth of the environmental movement in the 1960s, which led to landmark environmental protections.

From Barron's • Apr. 22, 2026

Japan isn’t the only country trying to reshore production of this strategic technology in the dawning age of AI.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 4, 2026

This might be a dawning moment, when the golfing world realises that someone capable of winning a record-equalling 82 PGA Tour titles might not be the best qualified to shape its future.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

“I hope it’s dawning on people, the sobriety of this moment,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 5, 2025

It was dawning on me that Julia was showing me something, teaching me how to help Annemarie.

From "When You Reach Me" by Rebecca Stead

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.