onset

American  

[on-set, awn-] / ˈɒnˌsɛt, ˈɔn- /

noun

1. a beginning or start.

   the onset of winter.

2. an assault or attack.

   an onset of the enemy.

3. Phonetics. the segment of a syllable preceding the nucleus, as the gr in great.

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onset British  

/ ˈɒnˌsɛt /

noun

1. an attack; assault

2. a start; beginning

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Etymology

Origin of onset

1525–35; on + set, after the verb phrase set on

Compare meaning

How does onset compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• onset vs. outset

Example Sentences

The key for both antivirals is starting them within 48 hours of symptom onset.

From The Wall Street Journal

"And sleep onset keeps progressively delaying in adolescence until age 18 to 20. After that, you start becoming more morning larkish again."

From Science Daily

The loss of Ice Age megafauna and the disappearance of Clovis tools and artifacts occurred around the same time as the onset of the Younger Dryas.

From Science Daily

“With the onset of generative AI, it really caused an inflection point.”

From The Wall Street Journal

By addressing these changes at the onset of Alzheimer's disease, the researchers are hopeful NU-9 potentially could prevent, or significantly delay, the cascade of toxic events that ultimately destroy neurons.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• commencement
• dawning
• onslaught
• outbreak
• outset