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noun

dawning

DAW-nihng

Dawning (noun) means the very beginning or first signs of something starting to happen or be understood. Example: “The invention of the printing press marked the dawning of a new age of information.”

noun
1
The very beginning or first signs of something starting to happen or be understood.
"The invention of the printing press marked the dawning of a new age of information."

How to use dawning

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe early start of something significant, often used figuratively rather than literally about sunrise.

Common pairings
the dawning of an era a dawning realization

Word forms

dawnings plural

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The invention of the printing press marked the _____ of a new age of information.

Etymology

From Middle English dawnynge, an alteration of dawing, under the influence of North Germanic cognates (compare Swedish, Danish dagning). See daw (“to dawn”).

Origin: Middle English

morning dawn sunrise aurora sunup daybreak cockcrow dayspring first light break of day break of the day

Related words

Rhymes for dawning

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Frequently asked questions

What does “dawning” mean?

The word “dawning” means the very beginning or first signs of something starting to happen or be understood. In plain terms, the early start of something significant, often used figuratively rather than literally about sunrise.

How do you pronounce “dawning”?

“Dawning” is pronounced DAW-nihng (/ˈdɔːnɪŋ/ in IPA).

How do you use “dawning” in a sentence?

Here is “dawning” used in a sentence: “The invention of the printing press marked the dawning of a new age of information.”

What part of speech is “dawning”?

“Dawning” is a noun.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial · etymology from Wiktionary