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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of commencement
Who can forgot that infamous Harrison Butker commencement speech at Benedictine College in May 2024.
—
Gemma Allen, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Butker faced criticism last year over his commencement speech at a Catholic college in Kansas.
—Staff, FOXNews.com, 28 Aug. 2025
That allegation triggered a massive police response to USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth − where Plymouth High School was holding its commencement ceremony − out of fear of a credible shooting threat.
—Tresa Baldas, Freep.com, 15 Aug. 2025
Viola Davis and Walter Murch were awarded honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts degrees by the American Film Institute at the conservatory’s commencement ceremony.
—Giana Levy, Variety, 8 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for commencement
Gemma Allen, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Butker faced criticism last year over his commencement speech at a Catholic college in Kansas.
—Staff, FOXNews.com, 28 Aug. 2025
That allegation triggered a massive police response to USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth − where Plymouth High School was holding its commencement ceremony − out of fear of a credible shooting threat.
—Tresa Baldas, Freep.com, 15 Aug. 2025
Viola Davis and Walter Murch were awarded honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts degrees by the American Film Institute at the conservatory’s commencement ceremony.
—Giana Levy, Variety, 8 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for commencement
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commencement
Noun
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The beginning of the evening was marked by an intimate performance on behalf of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.—
Robyn Mowatt,
Essence,
12 Sep. 2025
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And targeting, torturing, and murdering political opponents, rivals, and critics have marked the conflict since its beginning.—
Sean Durns,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Of course, the 0-1 start is not ideal.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Sep. 2025
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Bergert had previously allowed three runs or fewer in each of his 13 major-league starts.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Since Nomad’s inception, Bellavance-Lecompte and his cofounder Giorgio Pace, an avant-garde curator, have seen the fair resonate in the fashion world, while drawing chief executive officers from the sector’s biggest conglomerates.—
Sofia Celeste,
Footwear News,
10 Sep. 2025
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The Rare Impact Fund — which was previously held in 2023 and 2024 — has raised more than $20 million and supported 30 nonprofit partners across five continents since its 2020 inception.—
Katie Atkinson,
Billboard,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
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New York — Two key reports released Thursday showed the US economy may be in a state of early-onset stagflation — a toxic one-two punch of slow economic growth and rising prices.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
11 Sep. 2025
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Whereas Gamow had a scheme that the elements of the periodic table were forged in an early, hot, nucleosynthetic state shortly after the onset of the hot Big Bang, Hoyle claimed, correctly mind you, that the nuclear physics simply wouldn’t work out.—
Ethan Siegel,
Big Think,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Blue-collar YouTuber In Southern California, 19-year-old HVAC technician Itzcoatl Aguilar is still on the launch pad.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
14 Sep. 2025
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In the 1990s, both Kuwait and the UAE bought hundreds of Russian BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicles and BM-30 Smerch multiple launch rocket systems to augment their respective land forces.—
Paul Iddon,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Commencement.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commencement. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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