commencement

Language: en

🇺🇸 /kəˈmɛnsmənt/

📖 Definitions

  1. noun
    The act or process of beginning; the start or origin of something.; A ceremony at which degrees or diplomas are conferred on graduating students; a graduation ceremony.; The day on which a university or college holds its graduation ceremony.; The point in time at which something begins; an initial stage or period.; The formal act of entering upon an office or position; inauguration.; In law, the date on which a statute or legal instrument comes into force or effect.

🔗 Details

Word forms

countable Plural: commencements

Collocations

commencement ceremonycommencement speechcommencement addresscommencement exercisesdate of commencement

Derivatives

commencerecommencementcommencing

Synonyms

beginningstartinitiationinaugurationgraduation

Antonyms

conclusionendingtermination

Commonly confused

commandment
EN: 'Commandment' refers to a divine law or rule (e.g., the Ten Commandments); 'commencement' refers to a beginning or a graduation ceremony.

Spelling tips

EN: Remember the double 'm' and the 'e' before '-ment': com-mence-ment. A common error is dropping the 'e' to write '*commencment'.

💬 Examples

  1. The commencement of the project was delayed by several weeks.

  2. She gave the keynote speech at the university's commencement.

  3. Commencement is scheduled for the third Saturday in May.

  4. From the commencement of hostilities, both sides suffered heavy losses.

  5. The commencement of his presidency marked a new era in politics.

  6. The commencement of the new legislation is set for January 1st.