Thesaurus

commence

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of commence

1 to take the first step in (a process or course of action)

commence the festivities

Synonyms of commence

begin, embark (on or upon), enter (into or upon), fall (to), get off, kick off, launch, lead off, open, start, strike (into)

Words Related to commence

create, generate, inaugurate, initiate, innovate, invent, originate

adopt, embrace, take on, take up

establish, father, found, institute, organize, pioneer, set up, spawn

get around (to), get down (to), get round (to)

Phrases Synonymous with commence

get going, get to, set about

Near Antonyms of commence

cease, desist, discontinue, halt, knock off, lay off, quit, stop

close, complete

abandon, forsake, leave

abolish, demolish, destroy, exterminate, extinguish, phase out

Antonyms of commence

conclude, end, finish, terminate

2 to come into existence

the games commenced early in the morning

Synonyms of commence

actualize, appear, arise, begin, break, dawn, engender, form, materialize, originate, set in, spring, start

Words Related to commence

be, breathe, exist, live, subsist

arrive, come on, emerge

coalesce, cohere, shape (up)

continue, endure, last, persist, survive

Near Antonyms of commence

conclude, desist, discontinue, finish, halt, quit, terminate

disappear, dissolve, evaporate, vanish

depart, die, expire, pass away, perish

Antonyms of commence

cease, end, stop

Synonym Discussion of commence

begin, commence, start, initiate, inaugurate, usher in mean to take the first step in a course, process, or operation. begin, start, and commence are often interchangeable. begin, opposed to end, is the most general.

- begin a trip
- began dancing

start, opposed to stop, applies especially to first actions, steps, or stages.

- the work started slowly

commence can be more formal or bookish than begin or start.

- commence firing
- commenced a conversation

initiate implies taking a first step in a process or series that is to continue.

- initiated diplomatic contacts

inaugurate suggests a beginning of some formality or notion of significance.

- the discovery of penicillin inaugurated a new era in medicine

usher in is somewhat less weighty than inaugurate.

- ushered in a period of economic decline

Learn More about commence

See words that rhyme with commence Dictionary: Definition of commence Spanish Central: Translation of commence Nglish: Translation of commence for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of commence for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up commence? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments

WORD OF THE DAY

exoteric

suitable to be imparted to the public