graduation
Americannoun
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an act of graduating; the state of being graduated.
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the ceremony of conferring degrees or diplomas, as at a college or school.
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arrangement in degrees, levels, or ranks.
noun
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the act of graduating or the state of being graduated
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the ceremony at which school or college degrees and diplomas are conferred
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a mark or division or all the marks or divisions that indicate measure on an instrument or vessel
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of graduation
1375–1425; late Middle English graduacion < Medieval Latin graduātiōn- (stem of graduātiō ). See graduate, -ion
Explanation
Graduation happens when you successfully complete an academic program, like high school or college. Then you go to a graduation ceremony. Scientists might talk about the graduation lines on beakers and rulers that mark out units of measurement. But when most people hear this word, they think about finishing school. Students and their families celebrate graduation from high school, college, training programs, and even kindergarten. At graduation ceremonies, people often wear funny tasseled hats and long robes, then walk up one by one to get an official diploma or certificate.
Vocabulary lists containing graduation
100 SAT Words Beginning with "G"
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Vocabulary from poems about communication
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"Hanging Fire"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
That compared to a 62% graduation rate for the top 10-ranked colleges in our U.S.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026
When graduation came, Platner joined the Marines rather than go to college despite having earlier protested the Iraq war.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 6, 2026
New college graduates booed commencement speakers who spoke of the benefits of artificial intelligence during their graduation ceremonies.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 5, 2026
With Fairfield High’s graduation set to be held Friday, community members started a petition calling for it to be moved to a new location.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 5, 2026
She’s wearing a black graduation gown with a white collar sticking out, and her hair is in a tight bun with powder on it to make it gray.
From "Amina's Song" by Hena Khan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
