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
-
A lot goes into maintaining the health of pitchers whose arms bear extreme stress loads, over and over, beginning in March.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Aug. 2025
-
Key voices are beginning to emerge as Tennessee lawmakers prepare to return for the 2025 legislative session where school vouchers, hurricane Helene relief, a possible grocery tax cut, and budget choices will likely prove key issues.—
Melissa Brown,
The Tennessean,
21 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Alchemist Kitchen spins food business gold Several of the businesses identified are graduates of the Alchemist Microenterprise Academy (AMA), a 12-week business training course that teaches the basics of starting a food business.—
Sean Timberlake,
Sacbee.com,
12 June 2026
-
Ohtani was one of two members of the Dodgers starting rotation who left the game injured.—
Maddie Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
12 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
-
An Alberta clipper is a fast-moving low-pressure system originating in Alberta, Canada, sweeping southeast across the Plains, Midwest and Great Lakes in winter.—
Brandi D. Addison,
IndyStar,
4 Dec. 2025
-
The pathogen, originating from wild rodent populations in Central Asia, went on to cause the plague that devastated Europe.—
Jacopo Prisco,
CNN Money,
4 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Hochman’s pause, if granted, would apply only to the abuse cases stemming from juvenile halls, which make up the bulk of the lawsuits, and not the cases arising from foster care or the children’s shelter.—
Rebecca Ellis,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
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The Justice Department needs the IRS’s sign-off in order to make good on its promise not to pursue any claims arising from tax returns filed before May 18, and that could be a sticking point.—
Marie Sapirie,
Forbes.com,
1 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 17 Jun. 2026.
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