commence

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verb

Definition of COMMENCE

1

to take the first step in (a process or course of action) <commence the festivities>

Synonyms commence, embark (on or upon), enter (into or upon), fall (to), get off, kick off, launch, lead off, open, start, strike (into)

Related Words create, generate, inaugurate, initiate, innovate, invent, originate; adopt, embrace, take on, take up; establish, father, found, institute, organize, pioneer, set up, spawn; get around (to), get down (to), get round (to)

Near Antonyms cease, desist, discontinue, halt, knock off, lay off, quit, stop; close, complete; abandon, forsake, leave; abolish, demolish, destroy, exterminate, extinguish, phase out

Antonyms conclude, end, finish, terminate

2

to come into existence <the games commenced early in the morning>

Synonyms actualize, appear, arise, break, commence, dawn, engender, form, materialize, originate, set in, spring, start

Related Words be, breathe, exist, live, subsist; arrive, come on, emerge; coalesce, cohere, shape (up); continue, endure, last, persist, survive

Near Antonyms conclude, desist, discontinue, finish, halt, quit, terminate; disappear, dissolve, evaporate, vanish; depart, die, expire, pass away, perish

Antonyms cease, end, stop