1
as in begins
to take the first step in (a process or course of action)
commence the festivities
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in starts
to come into existence
the games commenced early in the morning
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of commences
But the Passover Seder also commences the 50-day historical journey to Mount Sinai, the metaphorical site where the Jewish people received the Torah, the laws and traditions that gave shape to their journey, their culture and societal structure.
—
Michael Pfleger, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
All changes take effect June 18 except for Cartagena, which commences June 11.
—Vinod Sreeharsha, Miami Herald, 12 Mar. 2026
If the sales go through and drilling eventually commences, large portions of the trail could, in theory, become unusable, forcing a reroute to keep it viable as a recreation setting.
—Alex Heard, Outside, 4 Mar. 2026
The strike will last until the union and the school district come to an agreement, which could mean hours or several days after the picket commences Thursday morning.
—Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 3 Mar. 2026
The first set of intercontinental playoffs take place at the end of this year and the second phase commences in February 2027.
—Emily Olsen, New York Times, 2 Mar. 2026
Sifford, who is currently the retailer’s vice chairman of the board, will fulfill the CEO responsibilities while the company commences a search for a permanent successor.
—Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 25 Feb. 2026
That two-leg series commences on March 10 at BMO Stadium, and wraps up a week later at Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto.
—Josh Gross, Daily News, 25 Feb. 2026
The planetary moonwalk commences on the 26th, twelve days after Valentine’s Day, and is plotting and sussing out the story, so beware of mishaps, missteps, unforeseen issues, travel delays, the resurrection of exes, and awkward moments.
—Lisa Stardust, Refinery29, 12 Feb. 2026
Michael Pfleger, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
All changes take effect June 18 except for Cartagena, which commences June 11.
—Vinod Sreeharsha, Miami Herald, 12 Mar. 2026
If the sales go through and drilling eventually commences, large portions of the trail could, in theory, become unusable, forcing a reroute to keep it viable as a recreation setting.
—Alex Heard, Outside, 4 Mar. 2026
The strike will last until the union and the school district come to an agreement, which could mean hours or several days after the picket commences Thursday morning.
—Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 3 Mar. 2026
The first set of intercontinental playoffs take place at the end of this year and the second phase commences in February 2027.
—Emily Olsen, New York Times, 2 Mar. 2026
Sifford, who is currently the retailer’s vice chairman of the board, will fulfill the CEO responsibilities while the company commences a search for a permanent successor.
—Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 25 Feb. 2026
That two-leg series commences on March 10 at BMO Stadium, and wraps up a week later at Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto.
—Josh Gross, Daily News, 25 Feb. 2026
The planetary moonwalk commences on the 26th, twelve days after Valentine’s Day, and is plotting and sussing out the story, so beware of mishaps, missteps, unforeseen issues, travel delays, the resurrection of exes, and awkward moments.
—Lisa Stardust, Refinery29, 12 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commences
Verb
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And what begins as a clever, high-concept joke doesn’t always build beyond a steady stream of chuckles.—
Dave Quinn,
PEOPLE,
21 Apr. 2026
-
The tech support emergency script This scam often begins with a pop-up warning or an unexpected phone call.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Add reserved sauce and cook, stirring often, until sauce starts to cling to chicken and green beans, 1–2 minutes.—
Nina Moskowitz,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
22 Apr. 2026
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Better care for patients starts with better conditions for workers.—
Christopher Marte,
New York Daily News,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Retinoblastoma is a rare eye cancer that originates in the retina and usually affects children under the age of 4, according to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.—
Kimberlee Speakman,
PEOPLE,
12 Apr. 2026
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The group originates from Brooklyn and formed while the members were in high school.—
Amethyst Martinez,
USA Today,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Their results showed that the unusual absorption behavior arises from interactions between excitons, which carry energy, and charge-transfer states, where electrons move between molecules.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Apr. 2026
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The workshop discusses how to specify health care preferences before an urgent medical situation arises.—
Linda Mcintosh,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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For now, the feature appears limited to Chrome’s Gemini side panel.—
Jibin Joseph,
PC Magazine,
15 Apr. 2026
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His company appears to have an energy field in distress that has major impact around the world.—
James Powel,
USA Today,
15 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Commences.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commences. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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