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

After graduation, her first onscreen role was in a 1984 episode of the soap opera The Edge of Night. —Nicholas Rice, People.com, 14 Sep. 2025

Approximately 52% of college graduates are underemployed one year after graduation, working in jobs that don't require a bachelor's degree. —Cheryl Robinson, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025

Remembering Delgado-Garcia was a primary theme of last year’s MSP recruit graduation ceremony, which saw his recruiting class become sworn in as troopers. —Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 13 Sep. 2025

There were a lot of new faces making big plays for head coach Joe Gordon’s squad that lost 22 seniors to graduation. —Cody Thorn, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Sep. 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