commences
Saykuh-MENS-izUS · UK/kəˈmɛnsɪz/AUS/kəˈmensɪz/
- 1Third-person singular simple present of commence.
The ceremony commences once all the guests have been seated.
Construction commences next month, after the permits are approved.
Note
The -s form serves both sides of the verb. Without an object, it says that something gets under way (the hearing commences at noon). With an object, it names what a subject sets going (the firm commences work). It is the formal choice where begin or start would be plainer. It also carried a dated British university use: a student who commences takes a degree, which is quite different from starting a course.
commences is a form of commence
commence, verb: To begin or get started. Full entry
- Forms
- commencecommences he/she/itcommencing -ing formcommenced past tense, past participle
- Spelling
- commence → commences: add -s
- Sound
- The ending sounds like /ɪz/, an extra syllable.
Use it in a sentence
Write your own sentence with commences, and AI will tell you whether it fits and which meaning you used.