1
as in beginning
to take the first step in (a process or course of action)
commence the festivities
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
The genial ginger singer-songwriter returned to North America June 13 with a run commencing at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
—
Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 14 June 2026
The 79th annual Cannes Film Festival is around the corner, commencing May 13 with the opening ceremony at the Palais des Festivals in the south of France.
—Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 12 May 2026
This is the phase of the project that’s now commencing.
—Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 8 May 2026
The Competition and Markets Authority sought comments from interested parties last month — a first step towards commencing a deeper examination of a deal that will reshape the global media landscape.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 6 May 2026
Wickens found time to reflect on his best season yet and career as a whole, amid the weeks-long party that has been commencing in the East Midlands city of Lincoln, after the club won League One in style with 103 points.
—Eduardo Tansley, New York Times, 4 May 2026
Earlier this year, the company announced a publishing administration partnership with 16-time Grammy Award-winner — and Variety’s Hitmakers 2025 songwriter of the year — Bruno Mars, commencing upon the completion of his current deal with BMG/Warner Chappell.
—Andrew Flanagan, Variety, 28 Apr. 2026
But soon after pouring millions into upgrading the hydro facility, the company shuttered its Cheboygan operation in 1990, eliminating 300 jobs and commencing the slow decline of the historic mill.
—CBS News, 18 Apr. 2026
The accord further prohibited the developers from beginning construction on the new residences before commencing work on these improvements.
—Awilda Esteras, Miami Herald, 12 Mar. 2026
Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 14 June 2026
The 79th annual Cannes Film Festival is around the corner, commencing May 13 with the opening ceremony at the Palais des Festivals in the south of France.
—Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 12 May 2026
This is the phase of the project that’s now commencing.
—Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 8 May 2026
The Competition and Markets Authority sought comments from interested parties last month — a first step towards commencing a deeper examination of a deal that will reshape the global media landscape.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 6 May 2026
Wickens found time to reflect on his best season yet and career as a whole, amid the weeks-long party that has been commencing in the East Midlands city of Lincoln, after the club won League One in style with 103 points.
—Eduardo Tansley, New York Times, 4 May 2026
Earlier this year, the company announced a publishing administration partnership with 16-time Grammy Award-winner — and Variety’s Hitmakers 2025 songwriter of the year — Bruno Mars, commencing upon the completion of his current deal with BMG/Warner Chappell.
—Andrew Flanagan, Variety, 28 Apr. 2026
But soon after pouring millions into upgrading the hydro facility, the company shuttered its Cheboygan operation in 1990, eliminating 300 jobs and commencing the slow decline of the historic mill.
—CBS News, 18 Apr. 2026
The accord further prohibited the developers from beginning construction on the new residences before commencing work on these improvements.
—Awilda Esteras, Miami Herald, 12 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commencing
Verb
-
Advertisement Along with restoring the center’s name, Judge Cooper also reversed the board’s decision to shut it down for two years beginning on July 5.—
Philip Wang,
Time,
13 June 2026
-
Just a few neighborhoods away, another revolution was brewing at CBGB, where punk rock was beginning to rewrite the city’s soundtrack.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN Money,
13 June 2026
Verb
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Though both teams are coming off wins, each tweaked its starting 11 from those openers, with Mexico changing three starters.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
19 June 2026
-
Meanwhile, police cut off traffic going east on Olympic Boulevard starting at Ardmore Avenue.—
Ruben Vives,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
Verb
-
Lionel Messi was inches from opening the scoring in Kansas City with just about five minutes gone.—
The Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
17 June 2026
-
The Iranian men’s soccer team’s quick departure from Los Angeles following its opening World Cup match was always the plan, according to the US government, despite complaints from the team.—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
16 June 2026
Verb
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The latter of those two strikeouts was followed by audible boos originating from the stands behind the Braves dugout.—
Tyler Estep,
AJC.com,
19 June 2026
-
The auto-pay benefit will apply broadly to borrowers in repayment with federal loans originating after July 1, 2012.—
Alison Durkee,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
Verb
-
The lawsuit is the second to be filed this year arising from accidents involving Daddino, court records show.—
Brittany Wallman,
Miami Herald,
13 June 2026
-
The adaptation of Robin Moore's nonfiction book sees two detectives try to bring down a drug kingpin with complications arising at every turn.—
Eric Farwell,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
The 63-year-old Scary Movie 6 actress revealed that she was recently diagnosed with breast cancer, while appearing on the Wednesday, June 10 episode of Chelsea Handler’s Dear Chelsea podcast.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
16 June 2026
-
After appearing in numerous TV anthology drama series in the 1950s, Smithers segued to regular series work in the ’60s, most notably a nine-month run as the character David Schuster in the nighttime soap Peyton Place in 1965-66.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
16 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Commencing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commencing. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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