1
as in began
to take the first step in (a process or course of action)
commence the festivities
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in started
to come into existence
the games commenced early in the morning
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of commenced
The personal injury trial commenced in late January in LA Superior Court.
—
Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 25 Mar. 2026
But even before escort missions commenced, US sailors found themselves in harm’s way.
—Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 22 Mar. 2026
Spring football has commenced and reporters got a 35-minute window to watch Coleman and a host of new Longhorns who are out to make sure last season’s omission from the College Football Playoff was a one-off and not the start of a bad-for-business trend on the Forty.
—Cedric Golden, Austin American Statesman, 11 Mar. 2026
Lake Zurich Mayor Tom Poynton was part of the annual purple ribbon cutting on the beach before plunging commenced.
—Karie Angell Luc, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2026
On the other hand, his jumpstart of World War III has commenced, causing the stock market to tank, oil prices to go through the roof and a level of anxiety gripping the nation as never before.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 9 Mar. 2026
The team’s 2026 model car wasn’t in its wind tunnel until mid-April last year, when other teams had commenced such testing in January 2025.
—Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
Gates tells Outdoor Life that Miller’s citizen petition was introduced to the CPW Commission in June, just a day before a furbearer working group commenced to provide recommendations on furbearer harvest.
—Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 5 Mar. 2026
The strait has already been effectively closed since the conflict commenced on Saturday, with shipping companies unwilling to risk vessels in a war zone.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 3 Mar. 2026
Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 25 Mar. 2026
But even before escort missions commenced, US sailors found themselves in harm’s way.
—Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 22 Mar. 2026
Spring football has commenced and reporters got a 35-minute window to watch Coleman and a host of new Longhorns who are out to make sure last season’s omission from the College Football Playoff was a one-off and not the start of a bad-for-business trend on the Forty.
—Cedric Golden, Austin American Statesman, 11 Mar. 2026
Lake Zurich Mayor Tom Poynton was part of the annual purple ribbon cutting on the beach before plunging commenced.
—Karie Angell Luc, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2026
On the other hand, his jumpstart of World War III has commenced, causing the stock market to tank, oil prices to go through the roof and a level of anxiety gripping the nation as never before.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 9 Mar. 2026
The team’s 2026 model car wasn’t in its wind tunnel until mid-April last year, when other teams had commenced such testing in January 2025.
—Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
Gates tells Outdoor Life that Miller’s citizen petition was introduced to the CPW Commission in June, just a day before a furbearer working group commenced to provide recommendations on furbearer harvest.
—Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 5 Mar. 2026
The strait has already been effectively closed since the conflict commenced on Saturday, with shipping companies unwilling to risk vessels in a war zone.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 3 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commenced
Verb
-
Austin Duffield was asleep on his couch in the apartment below Cincotti's when the fire began.—
Garrett Behanna,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Potter, who began his career playing for the Heat’s Summer League team as an undrafted player out of Wisconsin in 2021, scored 19 in the first half (on 5 for 6 three-point shooting) and 21 for the game.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Carolyn Hax started her Washington Post advice column in 1997, after five years on the Style desk and none as a therapist.—
Carolyn Hax,
Washington Post,
3 Apr. 2026
-
The match started 90 minutes late due to rain over Hard Rock Stadium.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In 2008, Aaron Marino launched a YouTube channel called Alpha M.—
Charles Bethea,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
The Rapid Support Forces and their allies in the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement–North launched a major offensive on Saturday on Dilling, the capital of South Kordofan province.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In addition to her previous Broadway runs, Levesque originated the role of Tess in Working Girl at La Jolla Playhouse.—
Caitlin Huston,
HollywoodReporter,
25 Mar. 2026
-
The story originated internally at Kuku, with the project framed as the opening move in what the company intends to be a growing theatrical slate.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Catch an impromptu movie at Cobble Hill Cinemas (Cobble Hill and Carroll Gardens are mere blocks apart), a neighborhood joint that opened in the 1920s as the Lido.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Although a space for dialogue has opened, the distrust has hardly gone away.—
Eyal Press,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
During her spay surgery, complications arose.—
Maryanne Dell,
Oc Register,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Protests arose throughout Iran; Haghighi recorded a video in support of the protesters.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Earlier in the day, Vance appeared at a Republican fundraising event in the city, according to someone familiar with the matter.—
Gabe Kaminsky,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The viral video appeared to take that emphasis to an extreme, leaning heavily into dramatic editing choices more commonly associated with cinematic productions than traditional albums.—
Claire Dodds,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
With the Iran war in its fifth week, attacks in the Middle East continued and there was still no clear end to the war.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
31 Mar. 2026
-
There was consensus on protecting the victims.—
Charlie Lapastora,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Commenced.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commenced. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
