onset

[on-set, awn-]

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.

onset

/ ˈɒnˌsɛt /

noun

1. an attack; assault

2. a start; beginning

Word History and Origins

Origin of onset¹

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

Example Sentences

For the high schooler, that catapult to fame coincided with the onset of crippling panic attacks.

From Los Angeles Times

The onset of the Korean War in 1950 threatened more inflation.

From Los Angeles Times

At the age of two, Toby Addison was diagnosed with early onset rod cone dystrophy and retinitis pigmentosa, which meant his eyesight would slowly deteriorate.

From BBC

By many metrics — including visitor totals, convention attendance and room occupancy rates — Las Vegas has yet to recover fully since the onset of the pandemic.

From Los Angeles Times

All were said to have been in good health prior to a sudden onset of lethargy, nausea, seizures and other symptoms.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• commencement 
• dawning 
• onslaught 
• outbreak 
• outset