onset

noun

on·​set ˈȯn-ˌset How to pronounce onset (audio)
ˈän-
1
: attack, assault
withstand the onset of the army
2
: beginning, commencement
the onset of winter
the onset of age-related diseases

Examples of onset in a Sentence

the walls withstood the onset of the first battalion the claim that if you take enough vitamin C at the onset of a cold, you'll often recover faster
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Research suggests this disruption may stem from alterations in normal neurodevelopmental processes that happen as adolescents mature — especially since the higher end of the typical age range of onset is when the brain completes maturation, D’Souza said. Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2025 Drought can delay the onset of color, while moist soil, in tandem with the right late-summer weather, produces good displays, Crick wrote. Jim Higgins, jsonline.com, 2 Sep. 2025 Our own planet’s active geology squelched our ability to retain a full history of the onset of life. Bruce Dorminey, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025 There’s some thought that an increase in diagnoses of early-onset colorectal cancer could be exacerbated by differences in screening for younger versus older patients. Caroline C. Boyle, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for onset

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1522, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of onset was circa 1522

Cite this Entry

“Onset.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/onset. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

onset

noun
on·​set ˈȯn-ˌset How to pronounce onset (audio)
ˈän-

Medical Definition

onset

noun
: the initial existence or symptoms of a disease
the onset of scarlet fever

More from Merriam-Webster on onset

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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