dawn
noun
the first appearance of daylight in the morning.
had been dawning
-
past perfect progressiveof dawn.past perfect progressive
Used to describe an action that was ongoing continuously in the past up until another past event interrupted it.
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.
It had been dawning on Luckey and Iribe and their colleagues for some time that they might not be as clear as they thought they were on what virtual reality is actually for.
From Time ● Mar. 26, 2014
Mr. Linden looked down at her till the question was finished, but then he looked off at the dancing water; the smile which had been dawning upon his lips breaking out into very full sunshine.
From Say and Seal, Volume II by Warner, Susan
IV Little by little there had been dawning in his mind a vague understanding; and now, as he lay on his bed in the inn at Pont-Aven, this understanding became a conviction.
From Paul Gauguin, His Life and Art by Fletcher, John Gould
The truth had been dawning on his mind for weeks past, but he had put it aside, willfully blinding himself because of his contentment with the present.
From Princess by McClelland, M. G. (Mary Greenway)
However, of late some tardy light had been dawning upon Aldous!
From Marcella by Ward, Humphry, Mrs.
