graduation

American  

[graj-oo-ey-shuhn] / ˌgrædʒ uˈeɪ ʃən /

noun

1. an act of graduating; the state of being graduated. graduated.

2. the ceremony of conferring degrees or diplomas, as at a college or school.

3. arrangement in degrees, levels, or ranks.

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graduation British  

/ ˌɡrædjʊˈeɪʃən /

noun

1. the act of graduating or the state of being graduated

2. the ceremony at which school or college degrees and diplomas are conferred

3. a mark or division or all the marks or divisions that indicate measure on an instrument or vessel

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Other Word Forms

• nongraduation noun
• postgraduation adjective
• pregraduation noun

Etymology

Origin of graduation

1375–1425; late Middle English graduacion < Medieval Latin graduātiōn- (stem of graduātiō ). See graduate, -ion

Example Sentences

After graduation, though, she struggled to find her footing, eventually graduating summa cum laude from the City University of New York with a theater degree.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

The severity of seemingly mundane, everyday anxieties — school bullies, the prom, graduation, obnoxious Cher-obsessed college roommates — is on par with demons trying to hasten the apocalypse.

From Salon • Mar. 26, 2026

The couple moved to New York after graduation, where Simon earned his M.B.A. from Columbia University and started working on Wall Street during a boom time for mergers and acquisitions.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026

His role at the school was to film student music videos, performances and graduation ceremonies.

From BBC • Mar. 13, 2026

“And he’s probably had more screen time today than in the first four years of his life combined. But here. A little graduation gift.”

From "Keeping Pace" by Laurie Morrison

Related Words

• convocation