commence
Americanverb (used with or without object)
verb
Synonym Usage
See begin.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
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have commencedperfect
-
has commencedperfect 3rd person singular
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has been commencingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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are commencingprogressive
-
have been commencingperfect progressive
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am commencingprogressive 1st person singular
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is commencingprogressive 3rd person singular
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commencessingular 3rd person
-
commencingparticiple
Past
-
had commencedperfect
-
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.
I started my own company, Commence, about that — about empowering women, to say: You’ve done the kids, you’ve had the career, what do you want now?
From Los Angeles Times • May 18, 2026
Commence a whirlwind: black-tie wedding in Chicago on Saturday, flight and initial team meeting in Las Vegas on Tuesday, first practice on Wednesday.
From Seattle Times • Aug. 3, 2023
Commence the evening’s festivities at the outdoor fire-bowls that dot the grounds outside the restaurant and sister jade bar with a toast.
From Fox News • Feb. 13, 2022
In the Bourse de la Commence, a finely tailored business-like jacket filed by above a gray skirt with a flounce cut on the bias.
From Seattle Times • Oct. 1, 2021
“Attention all compound residents. Commence emergency lockdown procedure, effective until five o’clock a.m. I repeat, commence emergency lockdown procedure, effective until five o’clock a.m.”
From "Allegiant" by Veronica Roth
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.
