inception

noun

in·cep·tion | \in-ˈsep-shən

\

Definition of inception

: an act, process, or instance of beginning : commencement

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Choose the Right Synonym for inception

origin, source, inception, root mean the point at which something begins its course or existence. origin applies to the things or persons from which something is ultimately derived and often to the causes operating before the thing itself comes into being. an investigation into the origin of baseball source applies more often to the point where something springs into being. the source of the Nile the source of recurrent trouble inception stresses the beginning of something without implying causes. the business has been a success since its inception root suggests a first, ultimate, or fundamental source often not easily discerned. the real root of the violence

Examples of inception in a Sentence

The project has been shrouded in controversy from its inception. Since its inception, the business has expanded to become a national retail chain. We'll assist you at every stage from inception to completion.

Recent Examples on the Web

But Michelin, with its secret inspections and romantic, open-road inception, resonates deeper with public imagination. — Casey Quackenbush / Hong Kong, Time, "'We're Not Educated.' The Untold Story of Lung King Heen, the World's First Michelin Three-Star Chinese Restaurant," 12 July 2018 Since the dance's inception, notable stars such as Ciara and her husband Russell Wilson, Kevin Hart and New York Giants star, Odell Beckham Jr., have all participated in the challenge. — Carl Lamarre, Billboard, "Watch Drake Put His Best Dance Moves to the Test For the 'In My Feelings' Challenge," 12 July 2018 Since their inception in 1958, the Billboard charts served a window to pop music history. — Travis M. Andrews, chicagotribune.com, "Billboard's charts used to be our barometer for music success. Are they meaningless in the streaming age?," 9 July 2018 According to a company spokesperson, Cow Appreciation Day has gained so much popularity since its inception in 2005 that during last year’s event, the fast food chain gave away over 1.8 million free entrées to customers in cow costumes. — Madison Roberts, PEOPLE.com, "Chick-fil-A is Giving Away Free Food to Anyone Who Dresses Like a Cow Again," 9 July 2018 Reid has been the Heat play-by-play voice since the 1991-92 season, after initially serving as analyst at the franchise's 1988 inception. — Ira Winderman, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Reid, Crotty in chemistry classes in advance of Heat television partnership," 8 July 2018 Phantogram’s set was a refreshing reminder of how much the genre has evolved since its 1980s inception. — Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Best and worst of Summerfest Day 10: Kip Moore, Jonathan Davis of Korn, Phantogram & more," 7 July 2018 They will be joined at Jackson Rancheria by guitarist Jamie West-Oram (who joined the band a mere year after its inception) and bassist Dan K. Brown. — Mel Shields, sacbee, "New Wave fans can get their 'Fixx' at Jackson Rancheria concert," 6 July 2018 Supporters point to Greenlight’s stellar annual returns since inception: 15% versus 8.7% for the S&P 500 and 7.5% for the average stock-focused hedge fund, according to HFR. — Gregory Zuckerman, WSJ, "‘This Is Unbelievable’: A Hedge Fund Star Dims, and Investors Flee," 4 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'inception.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

23 Sep 2018

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Time Traveler for inception

The first known use of inception was in the 15th century

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More Definitions for inception

inception

noun

English Language Learners Definition of inception

: the time at which something begins

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