commencing

[ kuh-men-sing ]

noun

1. the act, fact, or time of starting or beginning:

   From the commencing of his career as a painter, his prime concerns have been people's pain and longing and the beauty of nature.

adjective

1. starting; beginning:

   She became a Junior Assistant in the local public library at a commencing salary of $45 a week—not bad for those days.

Word History and Origins

Origin of commencing¹

First recorded in 1580–90; commenc(e) ( def ) + -ing ¹( def ) for the noun; commenc(e) ( def ) + -ing ²( def ) for the adjective

Example Sentences

He wants the Maliki government in Baghdad to get its act together on genuine power-sharing before commencing U.S. military action.

From The Daily Beast

The month is commencing with a bang as the government shuts down after failing to pass a budget to fund the government.

From The Daily Beast

Before commencing his rape, the man reportedly asked, “Do you remember me?”

From The Daily Beast

Trevithick's expansive engine therefore, commencing its work with steam of 46.8 lbs.

From Project Gutenberg

The Spanish troops, in proceeding to their posts, in commencing the siege, had several engagements with the Mexicans.

From Project Gutenberg

Before commencing a campaign a great general sits down to think it out.

From Project Gutenberg

They had probably reached no great height, but summer was only commencing, and it was evidently freezing.

From Project Gutenberg

To pay these seemed a necessary preliminary even to the possibility of commencing a new career.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• arising
• beginning
• starting
• stemming