as in beginning
the point at which something begins
there was a large turnout at the commencement of the conference, but the numbers dwindled as it progressed
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Recent Examples of commencement
Conservative activist Charlie Kirk's memorial service at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, has drawn big crowds and bigger names from the music industry, who have performed in the runup to the commencement of service and speeches.
—
Peter Aitken, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Sep. 2025
Moreover, the dissociation process is conditioned on Debtor's commencement of a bankruptcy case, the precise situation that § 541(c) is intended to address.
—Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
The University of Southern California said security concerns prompted it to cancel the commencement speech of its 2024 valedictorian, who was an outspoken advocate for Palestinians, according to The Associated Press.
—Brieanna J. Frank, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
Gold prices have risen by nearly a third this year, hitting new heights with the commencement of a trade war.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 2 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for commencement
Peter Aitken, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Sep. 2025
Moreover, the dissociation process is conditioned on Debtor's commencement of a bankruptcy case, the precise situation that § 541(c) is intended to address.
—Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
The University of Southern California said security concerns prompted it to cancel the commencement speech of its 2024 valedictorian, who was an outspoken advocate for Palestinians, according to The Associated Press.
—Brieanna J. Frank, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
Gold prices have risen by nearly a third this year, hitting new heights with the commencement of a trade war.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 2 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for commencement
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commencement
Noun
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There are few better ways to commemorate the beginning of autumn than by curling up on the couch to enjoy a movie night or start your annual Gilmore Girls rewatch.—
Maggie Horton,
PEOPLE,
2 Oct. 2025
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If Orlando pairs fierce defense with just enough scoring to get by, this could be the beginning of a special group.—
Fred Katz,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The slow start that Mayfield is alluding to has to do with the Buccaneers only scoring two field goals through the first half, and scoring their first touchdown well into the third quarter.—
James Brizuela,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Sep. 2025
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The Giants got their first win of the season against the previously unbeaten Chargers as rookie Jaxson Dart made his first start.—
The Athletic NFL Staff,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
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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
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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
Noun
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Due to Andrea Swift's health, Taylor decided not to go on a large tour for her seventh album, and then the smaller Lover Fest was canceled in 2020 with the onset of the pandemic.—
Janey Tracey,
Entertainment Weekly,
2 Oct. 2025
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At the onset of Cox remarks, a minority of attendees loudly booed his presence, but the governor was able to rally applause by invoking his pleasure to be back at his alma mater.—
Alex J. Rouhandeh,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The flight was SpaceX's 124th Falcon 9 mission this year out of a total 542 launches since 2010.—
Robert Z. Pearlman,
Space.com,
29 Sep. 2025
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The new launch comes just a few months after The Dispatch acquired SCOTUSBlog, the legal analysis website.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
28 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Commencement.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commencement. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
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