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

• ranking
• ladder
• hierarchy
• 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

Meanwhile, Fleming celebrated graduation from San Jose State in a social media post in May. —Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 24 June 2025

Seven different high schools held graduation ceremonies at the stadium on Monday. —Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 23 June 2025

In neighboring New Jersey, 16 people were sent to the emergency room following a sweltering set of graduations. —Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 23 June 2025

Six months after graduation, Sawaya’s boss sent him to a hotel in Tulsa. —Arkansas Online, 22 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1594, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for graduation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

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