graduation

noun

grad·​u·​a·​tion ˌgra-jə-ˈwā-shən 

1

: a mark on an instrument or vessel indicating degrees or quantity

also : these marks

2

a

: the award or acceptance of an academic degree or diploma

b

: commencement

3

: arrangement in degrees or ranks

Synonyms of graduation

• ladder
• hierarchy
• ranking
• scale
• series

Examples of graduation in a Sentence

He joined the navy after graduation.

We had a party to celebrate her graduation from high school.

They took lots of pictures at their son's graduation.

Recent Examples on the Web

Ironically, before the interview Cory had been dreaming of a graduation trip to Australia. — Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2026

Slow, incremental progress Some researchers question whether grade inflation is driving graduation rates higher than academic improvements, University of Chicago Professor Elaine Allensworth said. — Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 30 Oct. 2026

Continue reading … LEGAL VICTORY — Oregon mom who was banned from her child's graduation wins campus fight. — FOXNews.com, 29 Oct. 2026

But after its sale in 1999, enrollment began to decline as borrowers accused Brooks of high-pressure sales tactics, lying about graduation and job placement rates and misleading students about the school's high cost. — Cory Turner, NPR, 29 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for graduation

• ablation
• aeration
• bination
• carnation
• cassation
• castration
• causation
• centration
• cessation
• cetacean
• chelation
• citation

Kids Definition

graduation

noun

grad·​u·​a·​tion ˌgraj-ə-ˈwā-shən 

1

: a mark or the marks on an instrument or container indicating degrees or quantity

2

a

: an act or process of graduating

b

: the ceremony marking the completion by a student of a course of study at a school or college : commencement

3

: arrangement in degrees or ranks