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Definition of commence

commence

/kəˈmɛns/
com · mence
Past Simple:commenced
•
Past Participle:commenced
•
Present Participle:commencing
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commence Lexical Profile

commence Game Scores & Validity

• verb

1

To begin or start something, or to come into operation or existence (especially of a formal process, event, or undertaking).

Example

"The graduation ceremony will commence promptly at ten o'clock in the main auditorium."

2

To receive an academic degree at a university convocation or graduation ceremony.

Example

"More than five hundred students are expected to commence at the university this spring."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for commence

• Nearby Words

commemoration
commemorative
commemoratively
commence
commencement
commend
commendable

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in Middle English from Old French 'comencier', which developed from Vulgar Latin '*cominitiare', combining the intensive prefix 'com-' with Latin 'initiare' (to initiate or begin, derived from 'initium', meaning 'entrance' or 'beginning').

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Commence. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/commence
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