commencement
noun
an act or instance of commencing; beginning.
commencements
-
pluralof commencement.plural
The grammatical form denoting more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
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 have presided over 28 commencements as a president and dean, and those ceremonies are about celebrating the graduates and their supporters,” Schapiro wrote in a letter declining the speech.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 9, 2026
Few West Coast universities rival the pomp of the University of Southern California’s commencements.
From New York Times ● May 8, 2024
The decision comes as universities around the country wrangle with how to handle commencements for students whose high school graduations were derailed by COVID-19 in 2020.
From Seattle Times ● May 6, 2024
Numerous speakers tapped for keynote speeches at other academic commencements have canceled their appearances.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 29, 2024
For my final round of commencements as First Lady, I spoke at Jackson State University in Mississippi, another historically black school, using the opportunity to talk about striving for excellence.
From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama
