commencement

noun

com·​mence·​ment kə-ˈmen(t)s-mənt 

1

: an act, instance, or time of commencing

They awaited the commencement of the trial.

2

a

: the ceremonies or the day for conferring degrees or diplomas

A Nobel Prize winner will speak at the commencement.

b

: the period of activities at this time

Commencement will kick off with a family reception followed by a banquet.

Synonyms of commencement

• beginning
• start
• inception
• onset
• launch

Examples of commencement in a Sentence

A poet will speak at the commencement.

there was a large turnout at the commencement of the conference, but the numbers dwindled as it progressed

Recent Examples on the Web

About 380 students from Chatsworth Charter High School and 45 students from Stoney Point Continuation High School celebrated a major milestone Tuesday evening, June 9, during a joint commencement ceremony at Chatsworth Charter High School’s football stadium. —Teresa Liu, Daily News, 10 June 2026

Days later, Knoblock announced that the school commencement would go on as planned that week, with additional security. —Dejanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 9 June 2026

The Class of 2026 from Montecito High School, Future Bound Independent Study and Ramona Adult School celebrated commencement on June 3, in a ceremony honoring the accomplishments, resilience and future plans of 69 graduates. —Melissa Candy, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 June 2026

Since retiring from the NFL, Brady has remained active in business and public life, appearing at events ranging from college commencement ceremonies to discussions about the changing landscape of college athletics. —Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 9 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

see commence

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

commencement

noun

com·​mence·​ment kə-ˈmen(t)s-mənt 

1

: an act, instance, or time of commencing

2

: the ceremonies or the day for presenting degrees or diplomas to graduates of a school or college