commence

[kuh-mens]

verb (used with or without object)

commenced, commencing 

1. to begin; start.

   Synonyms: originate, initiate, inaugurate

commence

/ kəˈmɛns /

verb

1. to start or begin; come or cause to come into being, operation, etc

Other Word Forms

• commenceable adjective
• commencer noun
• recommence verb

Word History and Origins

Origin of commence¹

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”; initiate

Word History and Origins

Origin of commence¹

C14: from Old French comencer, from Vulgar Latin cominitiāre (unattested), from Latin com- (intensive) + initiāre to begin, from initium a beginning

Synonym Study

See begin.

Example Sentences

Shortly before filming on that project commenced, he remembers, he had lunch with Isabelle Huppert, who had just seen Reinsve onstage in Oslo and raved about “this one young actor in the purple dress.”

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One kid kicked a football, commencing a mad scramble as a group of friends converged on the object of their delight.

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The Rose Bowl Operating Co. and the City of Pasadena have commenced a legal battle with hopes of forcing the team to stay.

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The tournament will last more than a month, commencing on 11 June before coming to a conclusion in New Jersey on 19 July.

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The twins wiped their noses on their sleeves and fell to the floor, where they commenced to wrestle in celebration.

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Related Words

• begin 
• inaugurate 
• initiate 
• launch 
• take up