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

In 2021, only 4% of Harvard’s MBA students received no job offer within three months of graduation; by 2024, that figure swelled to 15%. —Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 21 Dec. 2025

In 1998, 23-year-old Amy Bradley embarked on a Royal Caribbean International cruise with her family for a seven-day trip to the tropics to celebrate her recent college graduation. —Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 20 Dec. 2025

Perfect for gamers and those who've never picked up a controller alike, this inventive and very meta story follows a pair of friends who borrow money, beg favors, and create their first blockbuster video game before graduation even arrives. —Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 20 Dec. 2025

This story has been updated to reflect Michele Reiner's graduation from the School of Visual Arts. —Sandra Gonzalez, CNN Money, 19 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1611, 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