commencement

noun

com·​mence·​ment kə-ˈmen(t)s-mənt How to pronounce commencement (audio)
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.

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 On May 13, 2009, Obama gave the commencement speech for Arizona State University's graduating class. The Arizona Republic, 12 Feb. 2024 Bellarmine University will have its commencement ceremony May 11 in the Freedom Hall of the Kentucky Exposition Center. The Courier-Journal, 3 Jan. 2024 There’s one day of the year that has continued to have the Internet in rapture since its commencement: the release of Pantone’s Color of the Year. Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 11 Dec. 2023 Here's when each of Arizona's major universities and the Maricopa Community Colleges release students for summer break and when Spring 2024 commencement ceremonies are planned. Marcus Reichley, The Arizona Republic, 15 Feb. 2024 The majority of Michigan's national championships were earned prior to the commencement of the Associated Press Poll era in 1936, which generally considered the first season of the modern college football era. Sahil Kurup, Detroit Free Press, 8 Jan. 2024 Universities around Kentucky are announcing their commencement dates for the Spring 2024 semester; some are scheduled for the weekend of the 150th Kentucky Derby. The Courier-Journal, 3 Jan. 2024 The two were flirtatious at a commencement ceremony, and Mr. Shatzkin asked her on a date the next day, according to their daughter, former Baltimore Sun reporter and editor Kate Shatzkin. Dan Belson, Baltimore Sun, 14 Feb. 2024 But most schools award degrees during commencements held in May or June. Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'commencement.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

see commence

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of commencement was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near commencement

Cite this Entry

“Commencement.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/commencement. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

commencement

noun
com·​mence·​ment kə-ˈmen(t)s-mənt How to pronounce commencement (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on commencement

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