commence
verb (used with or without object)
had commenced
-
past perfectof commence.past perfect
Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
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.
Poland also announced "aviation operations" had commenced following the Russian attack.
From Barron's ● Sep. 8, 2026
Never mind that the FDA blessed the biomarker measure before Regenxbio had commenced its trial.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 24, 2026
When the case started in April this year, the judge said he had received a letter informing him that the freeholder, Magnitude Developments Ltd, had commenced liquidation proceedings.
From BBC ● Dec. 12, 2025
Occurring in the middle of an economic depression that had commenced three years earlier, the assembled Democrats lacked any clear favorite as they began to discuss whom they should select.
From Salon ● Aug. 18, 2024
She thought awhile and decided that her conscious life had commenced at Nanny’s gate.
From "Their Eyes Were Watching God" by Zora Neale Hurston
