1
as in beginning
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 starting
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 commencing
In his late 20s at the time, Murdoch was commencing a staggering hot streak that would last roughly a decade.
—
Elizabeth Nelson, Pitchfork, 22 Jan. 2026
Indiana and Miami begin the semester on January 12, with Ole Miss commencing January 20.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 9 Jan. 2026
None of the arrests of the four individual plaintiffs in this case, on the other hand, were made in immediate anticipation of commencing removal proceedings, much less executing a final order of removal.
—New York Times, 2 Dec. 2025
Rollins humorously acknowledged his need to change his current diet before commencing the intensive physical preparations for his comeback.
—Andrew Ravens, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2025
The event will take place on Thursday, December 4 in Los Angeles, commencing with an intimate cocktail reception and awards ceremony.
—Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 12 Nov. 2025
Hands-down one of the most disgusting movies ever made (a compliment), the film finds the indefatigable slasher, who was decapitated at the end of Terrifier 2, reattaching his head and commencing his ritual slaughters.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Oct. 2025
Hours ahead of the judge’s deadline, the White House budget office announced reductions in force (RIFs) were commencing after days of threats.
—Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 10 Oct. 2025
The rebate checks were issued for three consecutive years, commencing in 1999.
—Robert Goulder, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Elizabeth Nelson, Pitchfork, 22 Jan. 2026
Indiana and Miami begin the semester on January 12, with Ole Miss commencing January 20.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 9 Jan. 2026
None of the arrests of the four individual plaintiffs in this case, on the other hand, were made in immediate anticipation of commencing removal proceedings, much less executing a final order of removal.
—New York Times, 2 Dec. 2025
Rollins humorously acknowledged his need to change his current diet before commencing the intensive physical preparations for his comeback.
—Andrew Ravens, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2025
The event will take place on Thursday, December 4 in Los Angeles, commencing with an intimate cocktail reception and awards ceremony.
—Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 12 Nov. 2025
Hands-down one of the most disgusting movies ever made (a compliment), the film finds the indefatigable slasher, who was decapitated at the end of Terrifier 2, reattaching his head and commencing his ritual slaughters.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Oct. 2025
Hours ahead of the judge’s deadline, the White House budget office announced reductions in force (RIFs) were commencing after days of threats.
—Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 10 Oct. 2025
The rebate checks were issued for three consecutive years, commencing in 1999.
—Robert Goulder, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commencing
Verb
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In their prior five SEC losses, opponents largely controlled the game from beginning to end.—
Ethan Westerman,
Arkansas Online,
1 Feb. 2026
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An intense arctic cold front will move through South Florida beginning Saturday morning and move into the Florida Straits by Saturday night.—
Angie DiMichele,
Sun Sentinel,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Kyiv, which has grappled with severe power shortages this winter, is forecast to enter a brutally cold stretch starting Friday that is expected to last into next week.—
AAMER MADHANI AND SUSIE BLANN THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
30 Jan. 2026
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And that leader was starting running back Chuba Hubbard, who carried a simple message.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Or another extreme swing of the pendulum, guided by the ultrawealthy closing and opening their wallets?—
Jacqui Palumbo,
CNN Money,
27 Jan. 2026
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Cooking down the chicory to the point of jamminess is an eye-opening approach that reveals a world of options beyond salad.—
Shilpa Uskokovic,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The case also echoes the bank’s involvement with Danske Bank’s Estonian branch, which processed $227 billion in suspicious transactions largely originating from Russia and the former Soviet states between 2007 and 2015.—
Lily Mae Lazarus,
Fortune,
30 Jan. 2026
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These long-period comets are especially prized by astronomers studying the early solar system, since Oort Cloud members are more pristine than regular, recurring visitors like Halley's Comet originating closer to the sun.—
Elizabeth Howell,
Space.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The press feasted on Duesberg’s self-portrayal as the victim of ostracism arising from professional jealousies — a target of cancel culture before that was a thing.—
Business Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Jan. 2026
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Innovations here are not surprisingly arising out of tech-first companies rather than traditional media companies, but hopefully these types of innovations will spread across the streaming world.—
Howard Homonoff,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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One such winner is Steve Kovacs, who took first place in the Blackwater category, as well as the coveted best-in-show prize, for his whimsical image of a monkfish in Japan appearing to yawn.—
Leslie Katz,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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Yankovic was previously a regular at Starlight, appearing there seven times between 2000 and 2025.—
Dan Kelly,
Kansas City Star,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Commencing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commencing. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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