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

There’s a new AI graduation requirement at Purdue University. — ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026

Parents reported using the technology to evaluate which schools to choose after using prompts based on affordability, career planning, internship opportunities, and successful job placement after graduation. — Ira Porter, Christian Science Monitor, 3 Aug. 2026

Trevizo attended prom and had planned to walk at her high school graduation while awaiting trial, but the school asked her not to attend. — Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 2 Aug. 2026

The HBCUs’ ratings are hurt by, among other factors, relatively low rates of graduation and retention (the percentage of students who return after their first year). — Asia Alexander, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for graduation

• ablation
• aeration
• bination
• carnation
• cassation
• castration
• causation
• centration
• cessation
• cetacean
• chelation
• citation

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