commence

verb

kə-ˈmen(t)s How to pronounce commence (audio)
Definition of commencenext
1
as in to begin
to take the first step in (a process or course of action) commence the festivities

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to start
to come into existence the games commenced early in the morning

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word commence different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of commence are begin, inaugurate, initiate, start, and usher in. While all these words mean "to take the first step in a course, process, or operation," commence can be more formal or bookish than begin or start.

commence firing
commenced a conversation

How does the word begin relate to other synonyms for commence?

Begin, start, and commence are often interchangeable, with begin, opposed to end, being the most general.

begin a trip
began dancing

Where would inaugurate be a reasonable alternative to commence?

The words inaugurate and commence are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, inaugurate suggests a beginning of some formality or notion of significance.

the discovery of penicillin inaugurated a new era in medicine

When is initiate a more appropriate choice than commence?

In some situations, the words initiate and commence are roughly equivalent. However, initiate implies taking a first step in a process or series that is to continue.

initiated diplomatic contacts

When could start be used to replace commence?

The synonyms start and commence are sometimes interchangeable, but start, opposed to stop, applies especially to first actions, steps, or stages.

the work started slowly

How do usher in and inaugurate relate to one another, in the sense of commence?

Usher in is somewhat less weighty than inaugurate.

ushered in a period of economic decline

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of commence Catcher Hunter Goodman visited the mound as Ramón Laureano walked to the plate, and Blalock commenced throwing some strikes. —Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Sep. 2025 Mad Men would be named Best Drama for a third straight year and Temple Grandin commenced what turned out to be a seemingly endless onslaught at every applicable awards show, as the TV-movie tied an Emmy record with five major wins. —Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 13 Sep. 2025 By the time the impeachment trial commenced, the top-down pressure from prominent, national Republicans could be seen and felt. —Kimberly Ross, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025 Northern Super League Commences Expansion Process for 2027 The Northern Super League (NSL), Canada’s professional women’s soccer league, has commenced the process for adding an additional club in 2027. —Sportico Staff, Sportico.com, 12 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for commence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commence
  1. begin
  2. start
  3. originate
  4. arise
  5. appear
Verb
  • Poland has reported the entry of Russian drones and missiles multiple times since Moscow began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
    — David Brennan, ABC News, 15 Sep. 2025
  • During World War II, Jenkins began selling items like monuments, tombstones, furniture, home appliances, toys and gifts, in addition to their usual music products.
    — Sarah Biegelsen, Kansas City Star, 14 Sep. 2025
Definition of begin
Verb
  • The 14th version, launched in 2021, wraps up at the end of this year, with the 15th starting next year.
    — Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2025
  • As the image of a college education providing the future to financial security has already started to show cracks, here is another — the top and bottom poverty rates by major.
    — Erik Sherman, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Definition of start
Verb
  • Hurricane Lane in 2018, spawned by a tropical wave that originated in the Atlantic Ocean off the African coast, eventually became only the fifth Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale on record in the Central Pacific Basin, according to a hurricane center report.
    — Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
  • The new charges originate from that fall, before Rodriguez-Singh left for India, according to the indictment.
    — Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Sep. 2025
Definition of originate
Verb
  • The zillion-dollar question then arises as to how else the code can be fixed?
    — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
  • But organic compounds can arise from either living organisms or nonbiological chemistry, making their origin uncertain.
    — Dirk Schulze-Makuch, Big Think, 17 Sep. 2025
Definition of arise
Verb
  • Videos from bystanders appeared to capture on person running across a rooftop of a nearby building on the campus, called the Losee Center, located around 140 yards from the stage were Kirk was speaking from.
    — Zachary Folk, Forbes.com, 12 Sep. 2025
  • The photo released shows what appears to be a man wearing a largely black outfit with an American flag on his shirt, a black cap, and black sunglasses.
    — Connor Greene, Time, 12 Sep. 2025
Definition of appear

Browse Nearby Words

commemoratives
commence
commenced
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Commence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commence. Accessed 19 Sep. 2025.

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