graduation

noun

grad·​u·​a·​tion ˌgra-jə-ˈwā-shən 

1

: a mark on an instrument or vessel indicating degrees or quantity

also : these marks

2

a

: the award or acceptance of an academic degree or diploma

b

: commencement

3

: arrangement in degrees or ranks

Synonyms of graduation

• ladder
• hierarchy
• ranking
• scale
• series

Examples of graduation in a Sentence

He joined the navy after graduation.

We had a party to celebrate her graduation from high school.

They took lots of pictures at their son's graduation.

Recent Examples on the Web

Her daughters and grandson attended the graduation, celebrating a moment Anderson hopes will mark the beginning of a new chapter. — Brian Maass, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026

The school review and ranking website recently released its list of the Best School Districts in America for 2027, analyzing state test scores, college readiness, graduation rates and more. — Hali Smith, Idaho Statesman, 14 Oct. 2026

Following graduation, Mattei moved to Arizona and taught English and coached baseball at the school. — Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 14 Oct. 2026

Founded in 2009 by Baroness Valerie Amos and Colleen Amos, The Amos Bursary supports promising students through a five-year program, beginning in their final years of high school and continuing through university graduation. — Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 14 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for graduation

• ablation
• aeration
• bination
• carnation
• cassation
• castration
• causation
• centration
• cessation
• cetacean
• chelation
• citation

Kids Definition

graduation

noun

grad·​u·​a·​tion ˌgraj-ə-ˈwā-shən 

1

: a mark or the marks on an instrument or container indicating degrees or quantity

2

a

: an act or process of graduating

b

: the ceremony marking the completion by a student of a course of study at a school or college : commencement

3

: arrangement in degrees or ranks