commencecom‧mence /kəˈmens/ ●○○ AWL verb [intransitive, transitive] formal 
Word Origin Examples
Work will commence on the new building immediately. Your first evaluation will be six months after you commence employment.commence with The course commences with a one week introduction to Art Theory.commence doing something The planes commenced bombing at midnight.► see thesaurus at startRegisterIn everyday English, people usually say start rather than commence:· The concert was just about to start.
Word OriginWORD ORIGINcommence
Verb TableOrigin:
1300-1400 Old French comencer, from Vulgar Latin cominitiare, from Latin com- ( ➔ COM-) + initiare ‘to begin’VERB TABLE
commence
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | commence |
| he, she, it | commences | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | commenced |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have commenced |
| he, she, it | has commenced | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had commenced |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will commence |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have commenced |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am commencing |
| he, she, it | is commencing | |
| you, we, they | are commencing | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was commencing |
| you, we, they | were commencing | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been commencing |
| he, she, it | has been commencing | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been commencing |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be commencing |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been commencing |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
Thesaurus- They will commence production in April.
- Beloved put her fists on her hips and commenced to skip on bare feet.
- His face has commenced to take on that same haggard, puzzled look of pressure that the face on the floor has.
- In 1891 he began making plans for a road and in 1893 he commenced work.
- In the excitement as the applause commenced, nobody had noticed Stafford slipping out of the lecture hall.
- The benefits for items 1-3 and 5 are only payable provided the contingency commences within 12 months of the injury.
- Undaunted I commenced my own search and within minutes was holding a medieval buckle.
THESAURUSto start doing something► start
Collocations to begin doing something: · I’m starting a new job next week.· It’s time we started.
► begin to start doing something.Begin is more formal than start, and is used especially in written English: · He began to speak.· The orchestra began playing.· Shall we begin?
► commence formal to start doing something: · The company will commence drilling next week.· Work was commenced on the next power station.
► get down to something to finally start doing something, especially your work: · Come on, Sam – it’s time you got down to some homework.· We’d better get down to business.
► set off to start a journey: · What time do you have to set off in the morning?· I usually set off for work at about 8.30.
► set out to start a long journey: · The ship set out from Portsmouth on July 12th.
► embark on something especially written to start something, especially something new, difficult, or exciting: · The Law Society has embarked on a major programme of reform.· Jamaica was embarking on a decade of musical creativity.
► resume formal to start doing something again after stopping it or being interrupted: · Normal train services will be resumed on April 5th.· Trade was resumed after the end of the war.
► get cracking informal to start doing something or going somewhere: · I think we should get cracking straightaway.
to start happening► start/begin to begin: · What time does the film start?
► begin to start. Begin is more formal than start and is used especially in written English: · · The trial began in March.· Work on the new bridge will begin early next year.
► open to start being shown to the public – used about a play, show, or exhibition: · Lloyd Webber’s new musical opened in London last week.· A major exhibition of her work will open in New York in November.
► commence formal to start happening: · The voting has already commenced.· The work is scheduled to commence in April.
► get under way to start happening or being done – used especially about something that is likely to last a long time: · Construction work is getting under way on a new train network.· Discussions concerning the plan got under way on April 2.
► break out to start happening – used especially about a fire, a fight, war, or a disease: · Police were called in when fighting broke out in the crowd.· The blaze broke out on the third floor of the hotel.
► kick off informal to start – used especially about a football game or a meeting: · The match is due to kick off this afternoon at Wembley Stadium.· What time will the celebrations kick off?
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN► action
Word family· If you haven't been paid, commence action.· In 1988 the plaintiff commenced an action for damages on the ground of negligence against the defendant health authority.
► court· Any claim for an amount exceeding £50 000 shall be commenced in the High Court.· In certain circumstances public law proceedings may be commenced in a county court care centre.· As to the former, the usual procedural rules apply depending on whether proceedings are commenced in the High Court or county court.
► date· The renewal licence will commence on the date your application is received in the Driver Licensing Central Office.
► period· Hatching occurred over a two-month period commencing at the end of June, with most juveniles emerging in mid-July.· These young people will be surveyed by mailed questionnaire on three separate occasions over a two-year period, commencing in spring 1987.
► proceeding· The defendant did not commence proceedings against the appellant until 7 March 1988.· P2 would therefore have until 1993 to commence proceedings under the section.· In this case, it must commence formal proceedings.· However, with certain crimes, an affected member of the public may commence criminal proceedings.· A purchaser would have to locate and commence proceedings against all vendors.· It is normal to commence proceedings in the local County Court - e.g. for the recovery of a debt.
► week· It is planned to run a second certificate level course during weeks commencing 29 March and 26 April.· Haulms are normally burnt off about two weeks before lifting commences.
► work· The Treasury gave permission in 1971 for work to commence and the building operation started in the autumn.· Bloomiehall Park. Work of improvement been commenced. 6.· Here he gained valuable experience and, though occupied with much routine work, commenced innovative research.· There were some practical considerations to be taken into account before the work could actually commence however.· Build for King Edward I, work commencing in 1283 and continuing for approximately four years.· Under Barratt's direction work was soon commenced, though he felt that there was a need for caution.· Building Regulations plans approval £35.25; and £105.75 inspection fees when the work commences.
► year· Indeed, there might be little to prevent some of the orders being cancelled when the new year commences.· The post is initially for a period of two years, commencing as soon as possible.
► years· The post is initially for a period of two years, commencing as soon as possible.
VERB► let· The landscape contract will be let separately and will commence early in 1990.· Try to ensure that there are supporters for each of the choices - then let play commence. 3.
WORD FAMILYnouncommencementverbcommence
to begin or to start something: Work will commence on the new building immediately. Your first evaluation will be six months after you commence employment.commence with The course commences with a one week introduction to Art Theory.commence doing something The planes commenced bombing at midnight.► see thesaurus at startRegisterIn everyday English, people usually say start rather than commence:· The concert was just about to start.