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
At the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the senior class president was barred from a 2025 graduation ceremony after delivering a pro-Palestinian speech at a commencement the previous day.
—
Jonathan Zimmerman, Chicago Tribune, 15 Mar. 2026
But unlike Hoosier fans, who historically only filled Memorial Stadium for spring commencement ceremonies, Nebraska fans have remained hopelessly devoted to their chronically underperforming team.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 13 Mar. 2026
Erika Kirk, the CEO of Turning Point USA and widow of its founder, Charlie Kirk, will be the 2026 commencement speaker at Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Michigan.
—Paula Wethington, CBS News, 6 Mar. 2026
After the public vote, the winner was announced during the college's May 2024 commencement ceremony — the Manta Ray, which has a wing span of up to 23 feet, weighs up to 3,000 pounds and can leap out of the water.
—Beth Reese Cravey, Florida Times-Union, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for commencement
Jonathan Zimmerman, Chicago Tribune, 15 Mar. 2026
But unlike Hoosier fans, who historically only filled Memorial Stadium for spring commencement ceremonies, Nebraska fans have remained hopelessly devoted to their chronically underperforming team.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 13 Mar. 2026
Erika Kirk, the CEO of Turning Point USA and widow of its founder, Charlie Kirk, will be the 2026 commencement speaker at Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Michigan.
—Paula Wethington, CBS News, 6 Mar. 2026
After the public vote, the winner was announced during the college's May 2024 commencement ceremony — the Manta Ray, which has a wing span of up to 23 feet, weighs up to 3,000 pounds and can leap out of the water.
—Beth Reese Cravey, Florida Times-Union, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for commencement
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commencement
Noun
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The changes will take effect April 3, marking the beginning of Teel’s third stint as CEO of Raley’s.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
28 Mar. 2026
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At the beginning of their time on the stand at the trial in which Evans pleaded guilty to intoxication manslaughter of a peace officer and elected to have a jury assess her punishment, the witnesses answered prosecutors’ introductory questions with flat speech.—
Emerson Clarridge
Updated March 27,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Texas’ big offseason trade acquisition, left-hander MacKenzie Gore, will make his first start for the Rangers against Philadelphia lefty Jesus Luzardo.—
Jim Barnes,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 Mar. 2026
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The firm has over 70 years of history, and the family got its start with cotton syndication in the United Kingdom.—
Nick Wooten,
Dallas Morning News,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
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According to Powerball, the jackpot has been hit almost 200 times since the lottery's inception in 1992.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
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Bollati’s’ family-run business has reported organic growth since its inception, save for the 2008 macro-financial crisis and the 2020 pandemic.—
Sandra Salibian,
Footwear News,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Frankenburg has seen commercial conversations with Gulf states speed up since the onset of the Iran war, CEO Kusti Salm told CNBC.—
Kai Nicol-Schwarz,
CNBC,
31 Mar. 2026
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Roughly 90% of these tumors are diagnosed in patients under 20 years old, often around the onset of puberty, making Tamura an outlier.—
Rachel Hale,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
According to the group, there have been 1,492 civilian casualties since the launch of the war.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
28 Mar. 2026
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Engineers at the China Ship Scientific Research Center (CSSRC) in Wuxi, northwest of Shanghai, have announced plans for the country's next tourism destination, expecting commercial launch of affordable trips on these new submersibles by 2030.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Commencement.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commencement. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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