- present participle of dawn.
dawning
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Origin of dawning
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.
See Examples For:
“There’s just a dawning understanding of broader American consciousness about caregiving and aging. It’s a massive infrastructure issue and economic issue that will impact all of us in some way.”
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 16, 2026
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
The dawning of reality should be close at hand now for England players - 'maybe it's not you, Scotland, maybe it's us'.
From BBC ● Feb. 14, 2026
The slowly dawning realization that this heavily tattooed white man named Teddy Swims was really going to pull off “Without You.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 31, 2026
Elizabeth’s tense, listening expression changed to a slowly dawning smile.
From "The Incredible Journey" by Sheila Burnford
Grey days, and wan, dree dawnings Since then, with fritter of flowers— Day wearies me with its ostentation and fawnings.
From Look! We Have Come Through! by Lawrence, D. H. (David Herbert)
Do I feel some dawnings of the heavenly light, earnests and antepasts of the full day of glory?
From Thoughts for the Quiet Hour by Various
She marked the first dawnings of the day, and rose.
From Ormond, Volume III (of 3) or, The Secret Witness by Brown, Charles Brockden
There were already some dawnings of Christianity in this district.
From Pioneers and Founders or, Recent Workers in the Mission field by Yonge, Charlotte Mary
"Coz!" she cried, placing her fore finger on her mouth reprovingly, yet pleased and smiling with the first dawnings of bright returning hope.
From Captain Kyd (Vol 1 of 2) or, The Wizard of the Sea by Ingraham, Jonathon Holt
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.
