1
as in sunrise
the first appearance of light in the morning or the time of its appearance
we stayed up talking until dawn
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in beginning
the point at which something begins
the dawn of civilization
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to start
to come into existence
a smile dawned on his face as he got the joke
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of dawn
Ben Hubbard, New York Times, 21 Jan. 2025
Awaking at dawn, herders interviewed by the Statesman sometimes travel miles to reach their sheep, spending the morning with them before returning over steep terrain to their canvas tent for lunch at midday.
—Ian Max Stevenson, Idaho Statesman, 17 Jan. 2025
David Blackmon, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024
Belichick's decision to dawn a headset in the NCAA as opposed to prospective opportunities with the NFL in 2025 was a surprising one.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 12 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for dawn 
Noun
The fire broke out before dawn in the Grand Kartal Hotel in Kartalkaya, 180 miles east of Istanbul, sending large flames from the windows and thick smoke billowing from the roof.
—Ben Hubbard, New York Times, 21 Jan. 2025
Awaking at dawn, herders interviewed by the Statesman sometimes travel miles to reach their sheep, spending the morning with them before returning over steep terrain to their canvas tent for lunch at midday.
—Ian Max Stevenson, Idaho Statesman, 17 Jan. 2025
Verb
Here is a review of 10 Big Energy Events that impacted the United States and its energy security during 2024:
The rise of AI and data centers as major energy demand drivers - Regional US power grids were already coming under strains to maintain security and reliability as 2024 dawned.
—David Blackmon, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024
Belichick's decision to dawn a headset in the NCAA as opposed to prospective opportunities with the NFL in 2025 was a surprising one.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 12 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for dawn
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dawn
Noun
-
In the still and quiet hours before sunrise Thursday, Maurice Reid was a kinetic and infectious ball of passion.—
Desiree Mathurin,
Charlotte Observer,
24 Jan. 2025
-
Hours earlier, before sunrise, firefighters attacked the Sepulveda fire, which broke out on the bone-dry hillsides of the 405 Freeway and was burning toward multimillion-dollar homes.—
Hannah Fry,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Popular on Variety At the beginning, these demonstrations are at the margins of the film — more like background noise than an integral part of the plot.—
Murtada Elfadl,
Variety,
18 Jan. 2025
-
There are mini challenges, smaller assignments, at the beginning of the episode, while maxi challenges test contestants on several different skills.—
Katie Decker-Jacoby,
StyleCaster,
17 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
In 2015, Wen went back to China and started Xtalpi with MIT postdoctoral fellows Ma Jian and Lai Lipeng.—
Zinnia Lee,
Forbes,
28 Jan. 2025
-
The artists will play the music of Bread at 6 p.m., and then the music of Heart at 7 p.m. The combined group of Ash and Chloe and the Mondays starts at 8 p.m. Reds, Whites and Brews is at 629 Main St., Suite B. Tickets are on sale now.—
Regina Elling,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
28 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
But opinions on this issue have actually remained pretty consistently in favor of the Paris agreement since its inception: 62 percent of Americans were opposed when Trump withdrew from it for the first time back in 2017, and the same share supported Biden's decision to rejoin in 2021.—
Mary Radcliffe,
ABC News,
22 Jan. 2025
-
More meme coins have emerged since the inception of fartcoin.—
Yun Li,Jesse Pound,
CNBC,
21 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Known for its relaxed chore coats and rugged chambray shirts, Drakes began in East London in 1977 and opened its Savile Row flagship in 2019.—
Denny Lee,
Travel + Leisure,
26 Jan. 2025
-
But with the league’s toughest remaining schedule, the true test of their mettle is just beginning.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
26 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Trump attended most days of the 2024 trial, criticizing Carroll as a liar from his seat in the courtroom and sparring with the judge who oversaw the case.—
Aaron Katersky,
ABC News,
28 Jan. 2025
-
After days of working with Colorado’s congressional delegation and the U.S. Embassy, Kuziez and his colleagues were cleared to head south Monday, just as hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were allowed to return home to northern Gaza.—
Katie Langford,
The Denver Post,
28 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
For example, the American Cancer Society reports that early onset colorectal cancer cases in adults younger than 50 grew by 2.4% each year from 2012-2021.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Jan. 2025
-
But from the onset, the second-oldest republic in the Western Hemisphere after the United States was beset by armed conflict, foreign interventions, repressive dictators, political violence, and heads of state whose personal ambitions and desire for power fanned instability and revolts.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
26 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
The 200-lap feature race will commence with the winners of the heat races setting the tone; Heat 1's victor will claim the pole position, with subsequent heat winners following suit in the lineup.—
John Yoo and John Shu,
Newsweek,
24 Jan. 2025
-
The live presentation will commence at 5:30 a.m. PT and will stream live on Oscar.com and Oscars.org in addition to the Academy’s TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube platforms.—
Matt Minton,
Variety,
23 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near dawn
Cite this Entry
“Dawn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dawn. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share