commencing

American  

[kuh-men-sing] / kəˈmɛn sɪŋ /

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.

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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.

Etymology

Origin of commencing

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

Also, it’s commencing a structurally stronger earnings cycle, with margin expansion expected to be aided by drivers including higher contribution from complex and differentiated formulations.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 5, 2026

Chief Executive James Litinsky said MP has key agreements with the Pentagon commencing in the current quarter, which is improving the company’s visibility into cash flow as it speeds up magnet production in the U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 6, 2025

Ties to be played week commencing 25 August.

From BBC • Aug. 13, 2025

The lawsuit also brings forth class action allegations on behalf of “all nonexempt hourly individuals who worked for Fox in California during the period commencing four years prior to the filing of this Complaint.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 6, 2025

The Thug was brushing his sticks across the round gold metal thing next to his drums and making it sound like a soft rain was commencing to fall on someone’s tin roof.

From "Bud, Not Buddy" by Christopher Paul Curtis

Related Words

• arising
• beginning
• starting
• stemming