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

Erika Kirk, the CEO of Turning Point USA and widow of its founder, Charlie Kirk, will be the 2026 commencement speaker at Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Michigan. —Paula Wethington, CBS News, 6 Mar. 2026

After the public vote, the winner was announced during the college's May 2024 commencement ceremony — the Manta Ray, which has a wing span of up to 23 feet, weighs up to 3,000 pounds and can leap out of the water. —Beth Reese Cravey, Florida Times-Union, 6 Mar. 2026

Willett is prepared for Tolland to have classes going past commencement this year, and many other districts are, too. —Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 5 Mar. 2026

In 1989, at Dartmouth College, the poet and essayist Joseph Brodsky delivered what must be one of the strangest commencement addresses of all time (and definitely one of the most Russian). —Daniel Smith, The Atlantic, 27 Feb. 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