commence
verb
transitive verb
intransitive verb
Synonyms
- begin
- embark (on or upon)
- enter (into or upon)
- fall (to)
- get off
- kick off
- launch
- lead off
- open
- start
- strike (into)
Example Sentences
Stephen King, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Apr./1 May 2009 He thereupon commenced giving me this fantastically boring lecture about how the only reason I want a stuffed chicken is because they look so good in a shop window, and that the moment I received one I'd start dreaming up ways to ditch it. Douglas Coupland, Generation X, 1991 The policy would commence not only with the limiting of permits for the building of hotels and boats but with supervision—through expert architectural advice—of the construction of these boats and hotels … William Styron, This Quiet Dust and Other Writings, (1953) 1982 "Why shoot, I thought you wanted to be a lawyer, you've already commenced going to court." The ladies laughed again. Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, 1960 I have commenced two letters to send you before this, both of which displeased me before I got half done, and so I tore them up. Abraham Lincoln, letter, 4 May 1837 The festivities will commence with a parade. Their contract commences in January. The court commenced criminal proceedings. The country has commenced preparations for war. See More Carson Burton, Variety, 1 Sep. 2022 Still a student, Ojo will commence his third year of fashion journalism study at Central Saint Martins next month. Luke Leitch, Vogue, 29 Aug. 2022 On 24th August, the sun will enter the sign of the maiden, and Virgo season will commence. Elizabeth Gulino, refinery29.com, 21 Aug. 2022 Appeal hearings will commence within 10 days following receipt of the notice of appeal, but the timeframe can be extended upon the agreement of both parties. Dan Labbe, cleveland, 1 Aug. 2022 From there, the gastronomic delights will commence. Tori Latham, Robb Report, 8 July 2022 Notably, both the new dividend and share repurchase program will commence from the third quarter of 2022. Trefis Team, Forbes, 6 July 2022 Across San Diego County this Fourth of July weekend, parties, festivals and other celebrations will commence, with local DJs setting the mood and selecting music to best represent the Independence Day holiday. San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 July 2022 The storied Red River Rivalry will again commence, now with a national title on the line. Dean Ruhl, USA TODAY, 8 June 2022 See More Word History
Middle English comencen, from Anglo-French comencer, from Vulgar Latin *cominitiare, from Latin com- + Late Latin initiare to begin, from Latin, to initiate
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense
Kids Definition
commence
verb
commence
verb
Synonyms & Similar Words
- begin
- start
- launch
- open
- found
- lead off
- set about
- initiate
- get going
- create
- get off
- kick off
- generate
- originate
- inaugurate
- get to
- fall (to)
- embark (on or upon)
- establish
- organize
- adopt
- invent
- strike (into)
- institute
- enter (into or upon)
- innovate
- spawn
- father
- pioneer
- take up
- take on
- embrace
- set up
- get around (to)
- get round (to)
- get down (to)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- conclude
- cease
- end
- terminate
- finish
- stop
- halt
- discontinue
- complete
- desist
- quit
- lay off
- leave
- close
- abandon
- destroy
- forsake
- abolish
- extinguish
- demolish
- knock off
- exterminate
- phase out
Synonyms & Similar Words
- begin
- start
- originate
- arise
- appear
- be
- emerge
- arrive
- form
- materialize
- dawn
- spring
- actualize
- set in
- engender
- exist
- last
- continue
- break
- live
- subsist
- breathe
- persist
- coalesce
- survive
- come on
- endure
- cohere
- shape (up)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- cease
- stop
- end
- conclude
- terminate
- finish
- halt
- discontinue
- quit
- disappear
- desist
- depart
- vanish
- dissolve
- evaporate
- die
- expire
- perish
- pass away
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of commence are begin, inaugurate, initiate, start, and usher in. While all these words mean "to take the first step in a course, process, or operation," commence can be more formal or bookish than begin or start.
Begin, start, and commence are often interchangeable, with begin, opposed to end, being the most general.
The words inaugurate and commence are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, inaugurate suggests a beginning of some formality or notion of significance.
In some situations, the words initiate and commence are roughly equivalent. However, initiate implies taking a first step in a process or series that is to continue.
The synonyms start and commence are sometimes interchangeable, but start, opposed to stop, applies especially to first actions, steps, or stages.
Usher in is somewhat less weighty than inaugurate.