1
as in beginning
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 starting
to come into existence
the games commenced early in the morning
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of commencing
The accord further prohibited the developers from beginning construction on the new residences before commencing work on these improvements.
—
Awilda Esteras, Miami Herald, 12 Mar. 2026
Willie made it through the filming of the first episode, but as the second episode was commencing, word got to me that Willie had returned to Los Angeles and the end was near.
—Annabelle Gurwitch, HollywoodReporter, 24 Feb. 2026
According to China General Nuclear (CGN), on 21st February, the reactor pressure vessel for unit 6 began hoisting operations, officially commencing the installation of the unit’s main nuclear island equipment.
—Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 24 Feb. 2026
Dig deep to decipher the answer before commencing.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 21 Feb. 2026
Don Lemon was arrested for covering anti-ICE protests inside a Minnesota church and is now commencing the best press tour of his life.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 3 Feb. 2026
In his late 20s at the time, Murdoch was commencing a staggering hot streak that would last roughly a decade.
—Elizabeth Nelson, Pitchfork, 22 Jan. 2026
Indiana and Miami begin the semester on January 12, with Ole Miss commencing January 20.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 9 Jan. 2026
None of the arrests of the four individual plaintiffs in this case, on the other hand, were made in immediate anticipation of commencing removal proceedings, much less executing a final order of removal.
—New York Times, 2 Dec. 2025
Awilda Esteras, Miami Herald, 12 Mar. 2026
Willie made it through the filming of the first episode, but as the second episode was commencing, word got to me that Willie had returned to Los Angeles and the end was near.
—Annabelle Gurwitch, HollywoodReporter, 24 Feb. 2026
According to China General Nuclear (CGN), on 21st February, the reactor pressure vessel for unit 6 began hoisting operations, officially commencing the installation of the unit’s main nuclear island equipment.
—Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 24 Feb. 2026
Dig deep to decipher the answer before commencing.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 21 Feb. 2026
Don Lemon was arrested for covering anti-ICE protests inside a Minnesota church and is now commencing the best press tour of his life.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 3 Feb. 2026
In his late 20s at the time, Murdoch was commencing a staggering hot streak that would last roughly a decade.
—Elizabeth Nelson, Pitchfork, 22 Jan. 2026
Indiana and Miami begin the semester on January 12, with Ole Miss commencing January 20.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 9 Jan. 2026
None of the arrests of the four individual plaintiffs in this case, on the other hand, were made in immediate anticipation of commencing removal proceedings, much less executing a final order of removal.
—New York Times, 2 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commencing
Verb
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This year is beginning to resemble the magical 2024 season for Korda, who won seven times en route to becoming Player of the Year.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
5 Apr. 2026
-
The union and workers agreed to return to work after the company agreed to return for two days of face-to-face contract negotiations beginning April 9.—
Logan Smith,
CBS News,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Even amid this buzz, however, the cracks are starting to show.—
Sam Goldner,
Pitchfork,
2 Apr. 2026
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Insurance wildfire models are starting to play the role of the grading scale, and policies such as Zone Zero, the national building codes.—
Noah Haggerty,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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His parents prospered, opening a fur shop called Paris-New York and moving to the tony Sixteenth Arrondissement.—
Lauren Collins,
New Yorker,
1 Apr. 2026
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The Harris Theater for Music and Dance has announced its 2026-27 season of dance, music and theater, its 20th anniversary season in Millennium Park, opening with a visit from the Trisha Brown Dance Company in September.—
Doug George,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Endometrial cancer is the most common gynecologic cancer, originating in the lining of the uterus, called the endometrium, according to StatPearls, an online library published in the National Library of Medicine.—
Dr. Chidimma J. Acholonu,
ABC News,
3 Apr. 2026
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In 2025, the country’s highest foreign revenue came from remittances originating in the Middle East, placing it at direct risk from instability in that region.—
Mayu Saini,
Sourcing Journal,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Ranching on the borderlands of southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico is seasoned with challenges arising from the whims of nature.—
Shi En Kim,
AZCentral.com,
26 Mar. 2026
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Major problems arising from hallucinating AI coding software could snowball into catastrophe at many other firms as well.—
Victor Tangermann,
Futurism,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Last year, New York's Zohran Mamdani won his mayoral race after appearing on Piker's stream.—
Jesus Mesa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
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In that sense, the effort to avoid appearing wrong can weaken decision-making.—
Paul Wachtel,
The Conversation,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Commencing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commencing. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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