DictionaryAI

commence

verb
Saykuh-MENSUS · UK/kəˈmɛns/AUS/kəˈmens/

Formscommences, commencing, commenced

3 meanings of commence

Practice

  1. 1
    verbintransitive
    To start or begin happening.

    Like pushing the start button to make a machine begin.

    The ceremony will commence at noon.

    The journey commenced as soon as everyone arrived.

    Similarbegin, start (entry), open, launch

    Oppositeend, finish, conclude, cease

    Note
  2. 2
    verbarchaictransitive
    To start to be something, or to start acting as something.
    Note
  3. 3
    verbdatedUKintransitive
    To finish your studies and take a degree at a university.

    Like crossing the stage to collect your diploma at graduation.

    She commenced at Oxford that summer, proud to receive her degree at last.

    In the old days, a Cambridge student would commence once the degree was earned.

    Similargraduate

    Note

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Origin

Commence comes from an old French word that came from Latin, made from com- plus a word meaning to begin (the same root as 'initiate').