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
The irony of the commencement booing, however, lies in the common hypocrisy found within the student body.
—
Jj Jasser, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 May 2026
Romeo Bongiovi, which is the rocker’s real last name, posed with his famous dad at the commencement ceremony in a pic widely shared on social media.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 12 May 2026
The college's commencement ceremony saw 176 students earn bachelor's degrees and 26 earn master's degrees, reports Axios Raleigh.
—Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 12 May 2026
Addressing Carnegie Mellon University’s class of 2026 during a commencement speech on Sunday, Huang described an AI-era jobs market that extends far beyond the confines of software and engineering degrees.
—Tristan Bove, Fortune, 11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for commencement
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Jj Jasser, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 May 2026
Romeo Bongiovi, which is the rocker’s real last name, posed with his famous dad at the commencement ceremony in a pic widely shared on social media.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 12 May 2026
The college's commencement ceremony saw 176 students earn bachelor's degrees and 26 earn master's degrees, reports Axios Raleigh.
—Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 12 May 2026
Addressing Carnegie Mellon University’s class of 2026 during a commencement speech on Sunday, Huang described an AI-era jobs market that extends far beyond the confines of software and engineering degrees.
—Tristan Bove, Fortune, 11 May 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 20 May. 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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