inception

noun

in·​cep·​tion in-ˈsep-shən 

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

Synonyms

• beginning
• commencement
• start
• onset
• launch
• alpha

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

Their work has included the Locks for Children's Safety, an initiative that has distributed more than 8,600 gun locks through partnerships with state agencies since its 2024 inception, said Craig Boerner, a Vanderbilt spokesman. —Beth Warren, Nashville Tennessean, 3 Oct. 2025

Michelle Rutkowski had been part of the popular Milwaukee alternative-rock radio station from its inception in 2006 until its final days this September. —Kelli Arseneau, jsonline.com, 2 Oct. 2025

Unlike Vegas, the Phoenix franchise has been rooted in place since the WNBA’s inception, so there’s been more space for traditions to bloom. —Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025

Since the Cayman’s inception, its exterior has always affirmed the model’s legitimacy as a light and compact mid-engine athlete. —Peter Nelson, Robb Report, 1 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English incepcion, from Latin inception-, inceptio, from incipere to begin, from in- + capere to take

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for inception

• conception
• deception
• exception
• perception
• reception
• apperception
• contraception
• interception
• misconception
• misperception
• preconception
• intussusception

Kids Definition

inception

noun

in·​cep·​tion in-ˈsep-shən 

: an act or instance of beginning