commencement
noun
com·mence·ment
kə-ˈmen(t)s-mənt 
1
: an act, instance, or time of commencing
They awaited the commencement of the trial.
2
a
: the ceremonies or the day for conferring degrees or diplomas
A Nobel Prize winner will speak at the commencement.
b
: the period of activities at this time
Commencement will kick off with a family reception followed by a banquet.
Examples of commencement in a Sentence
A poet will speak at the commencement.
there was a large turnout at the commencement of the conference, but the numbers dwindled as it progressed
Recent Examples on the Web
Grasso will be on hand for U-M's spring commencement May 2, when former Fab Five basketball star Jalen Rose will be the speaker.
—
John Wisely, Freep.com, 31 Mar. 2026
Los Angeles Philharmonic Music and Artistic Director Gustavo Dudamel will deliver the keynote address at USC’s 143rd commencement ceremony at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in May, university officials announced on Monday.
—City News Service, Daily News, 30 Mar. 2026
Former Texas quarterback and 13-year NFL veteran Colt McCoy will deliver the keynote address at the University of Texas’ 143rd commencement ceremony, the school announced Friday.
—Sportsday Staff, Dallas Morning News, 27 Mar. 2026
On March 5, Washington Square News editor Leena Ahmed broke the story that NYU has canceled all live student graduation speakers for all of its upcoming commencement and convocation ceremonies this spring.
—Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for commencement
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John Wisely, Freep.com, 31 Mar. 2026
Los Angeles Philharmonic Music and Artistic Director Gustavo Dudamel will deliver the keynote address at USC’s 143rd commencement ceremony at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in May, university officials announced on Monday.
—City News Service, Daily News, 30 Mar. 2026
Former Texas quarterback and 13-year NFL veteran Colt McCoy will deliver the keynote address at the University of Texas’ 143rd commencement ceremony, the school announced Friday.
—Sportsday Staff, Dallas Morning News, 27 Mar. 2026
On March 5, Washington Square News editor Leena Ahmed broke the story that NYU has canceled all live student graduation speakers for all of its upcoming commencement and convocation ceremonies this spring.
—Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for commencement
Cite this Entry
“Commencement.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/commencement. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
commencement
noun
com·mence·ment
kə-ˈmen(t)s-mənt
1
: an act, instance, or time of commencing
2
: the ceremonies or the day for presenting degrees or diplomas to graduates of a school or college
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