commence

American

[kuh-mens] / kəˈmɛns /

verb (used with or without object)

commenced, commencing

to begin; start.

Synonyms:

originate, initiate, inaugurate

commence British

/ kəˈmɛns /

verb

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Related Words

See begin.

Other Word Forms

commenceable adjective
commencer noun
recommence verb

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”; initiate

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.

The new Singapore facility’s wafer output is scheduled to commence in the second half of 2028, with flexible capacity management.

From Barron's

If Greenlanders vote yes in a future referendum, Denmark is constitutionally obligated to commence negotiations for the island’s departure.

From The Wall Street Journal

However, “with seasonal refinery maintenance about to commence, reducing demand for crude, further reductions in crude production will be needed to help balance the market.”

From The Wall Street Journal

The 39 victims of the crash have not yet been identified, with Puente saying the death toll "is not yet final" as investigations into the crash commence.

From BBC

The health board added there had been a "steady decrease" in the rate of infection after remedial measures on the system had commenced.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023