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

• hierarchy
• ladder
• ordering
• ranking
• scale

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

School is out, graduations attended, wedding gifts purchased, and vacations planned. —Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 13 June 2025

America's wealthiest communities: 40 celebrities and athletes who call this county home Fieri celebrated his son Hunter Fieri's graduation in May from the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida. —Kimberly Miller, USA Today, 13 June 2025

That's just an appetizer CT high school’s joy in graduation dimmed by classmate taken by ICE. —State Rep. Matt Blumenthal, Hartford Courant, 13 June 2025

The list includes health challenges, losing a family member, weddings, anniversaries, graduations and more. —Nancy Padberg, Forbes.com, 12 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