commence
Americanverb (used with or without object)
verb
Synonym Usage
See begin.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
has commencedperfect 3rd person singular
-
have commencedperfect
-
is commencingprogressive 3rd person singular
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are commencingprogressive
-
has been commencingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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commencessingular 3rd person
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commencingparticiple
-
have been commencingperfect progressive
-
am commencingprogressive 1st person singular
Past
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had commencedperfect
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was commencingprogressive singular
-
had been commencingperfect progressive
-
commencedsimple
-
commencedparticiple
-
were commencingprogressive plural
Future
Etymology
Origin of commence
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English commencen, from Anglo-French, Middle French comencer, from unrecorded Vulgar Latin cominitiāre, equivalent to Latin com- com- + initiāre “to begin”; see initiate
Explanation
Commence is a fancy way of saying "begin." Your invitation to a formal wedding might note, "The ceremony will commence at noon." If a congressman wants to start a meeting to vote on an important bill, he might say, "This meeting will begin immediately." Or, he could make the same statement in a more formal way by saying, "This meeting will commence immediately." Interestingly enough, while the word commence means to start, a commencement ceremony marks the end of a college career.
Vocabulary lists containing commence
Bud, Not Buddy
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Essential English Vocabulary, List 1
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List 8
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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.
If all goes well, orders are likely to commence next year.
From Barron's • Jun. 4, 2026
"His condition continues to deteriorate and will need more fully to be reviewed before any trial may commence," argued the defence.
From Barron's • May 27, 2026
"Whatever the issues around specific dates, we are now satisfied that there is sufficient credible information to commence a search in the Derryclone area."
From BBC • May 26, 2026
“We are about to commence the redevelopment of 350 Park Avenue, creating 6,000 highly paid construction jobs and supporting the creation of more than 15,000 permanent jobs in mid-town New York,” wrote Gerald Beeson.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 23, 2026
After a while they finally gave up as a cricket started calling for night to commence.
From "A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier" by Ishmael Beah
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.
