commence
verb (used with or without object)
was commencing
-
past progressiveof commence.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
The Office of the Data Protection Commissioner in Kenya also announced it was commencing an investigation into privacy concerns raised by the glasses.
From BBC ● Apr. 30, 2026
FTX, one of the biggest cryptocurrency exchanges in the world, said on Friday it was commencing bankruptcy proceedings in the United States.
From Reuters ● Nov. 11, 2022
While growing up in San Francisco, he and his music-loving dad would often go to clubs to see Cole perform, an experience that continued as Mathis was commencing his own artistic journey.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 11, 2022
Defensive reinforcements arrived for the just as the team’s bye week was commencing.
From Washington Post ● Oct. 1, 2013
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
