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

The summer after graduation, Yasmina informed me that her mother didn’t mention trains anymore. —Joan Silber, New Yorker, 30 Nov. 2025

When his father offered him a watch as a law-school graduation present, Robins asked for a painting instead. —Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 30 Nov. 2025

Born and raised in Erlanger, Kentucky, Strange was sent off to engineering school at the University of Cincinnati by his mother after high school graduation. —Leyla Shokoohe, Cincinnati Enquirer, 30 Nov. 2025

According to the outlet, the couple had been dating for around two years and met when Muller was visiting her grandmother in the city at a school graduation dance. —Francesca Gariano, PEOPLE, 29 Nov. 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