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
The case is scheduled to be heard in London’s High Court, commencing on October 28.
—
Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
The rebate checks were issued for three consecutive years, commencing in 1999.
—Robert Goulder, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Subsequently, Liddell highlights the importance of entrepreneurs commencing their journey with clear goals in place.
—Nia Bowers, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
The county was warned of this conflict and ignored pleas to investigate before commencing the audit of whether the money was spent improperly.
—Sacbee.com, 4 Aug. 2025
Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
The rebate checks were issued for three consecutive years, commencing in 1999.
—Robert Goulder, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Subsequently, Liddell highlights the importance of entrepreneurs commencing their journey with clear goals in place.
—Nia Bowers, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
The county was warned of this conflict and ignored pleas to investigate before commencing the audit of whether the money was spent improperly.
—Sacbee.com, 4 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commencing
Verb
-
Yet, with the rest of the squad beginning their preparations for a midweek trip to Hartlepool United in the League Cup, his absence had alarm bells ringing.—
Matt Woosnam,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
-
The June 2025 Social Security and Medicare trustees’ report states that Social Security’s trust funds, which cover old age and disability recipients, will be unable to pay full benefits beginning in 2034.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
But her office meeting calendar is starting to show clues.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
27 Oct. 2025
-
In northern Michigan, Dana Tuller is starting her third job as a warehouse sorter.—
Nushrat Rahman,
Freep.com,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Billups was arrested less than nine hours after Portland’s season-opening season-opening loss at home, a game notably attended by the team’s current owner and a financier in the process of buying the franchise.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
24 Oct. 2025
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But Miller was back Wednesday in the Hornets’ 136-117 season-opening win over the Brooklyn Nets at Charlotte’s Spectrum Center — rising, soaring and dunking the ball with acrobatic impunity.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Charged particles originating from the corona surge into the gap but are soon snared by two great magnetic loops—the Van Allen Radiation Belts—that usually keep them from Earth’s surface.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Oct. 2025
-
Complaints about video gambling machines in bars, restaurants, gas stations and liquor stores were widespread, originating in both rural and urban areas.—
Hope Karnopp,
jsonline.com,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
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On smaller scales, stars, gas, radiation, feedback, and other effects arising from the physics of normal matter play an enormously important role, and simulations are still improving.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
23 Oct. 2025
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In particular, this history suggests that when each side views the other as an existential threat, maintaining political power becomes the greatest imperative—which only increases the likelihood of authoritarian solutions arising as a result.—
Time,
Time,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Farther up, on Observatory Hill, tall cryptomeria trees were silhouetted in the darkening evening, and down in the valleys, lights winked on like reflections of the planets and stars appearing in the sky.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Oct. 2025
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Other than Valak appearing in both The Conjuring 2 and The Nun, there’s no apparent link between the two movies — but in The Nun’s sequel, a plot point emerges that ties the movies together.—
Julie Tremaine,
PEOPLE,
27 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Commencing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commencing. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.
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