i Register
In some senses, commence is marked as dated, UK. Watch for register when choosing this word.
commence
/kəˈmɛns/
verb 4
Collocations
5ADJ.
due, straightforward
VERB + COMMENCE
let's, meeting, spring
COMMENCE + NOUN
construction, course
PREP.
about, from, in, with, without
ADV.
initially
Definitions
verb
1
To begin, start.
Here the anthem doth commence:
His heaven commences ere the world be past!
2
To begin, start.
The speeches commenced three days of workshops, seminars, and cultural activities.
3
To begin to be, or to act as.
[…] he furnish’d me with a Gun, Cartouch-box, and Powder-horn, &c. and thus accouter’d I commenc’d Soldier.
When we are wearied of the trouble of prosecuting crimes at the bar, we commence judges ourselves […]
4
To take a degree at a university.
[…] I question whether the Formality of Commencing was used in that Age: inclining rather to the negative, that such Distinction of Graduates was then unknown […]
[…] was admitted a minor fellow of his college 4 Oct. 1591, a major fellow 11 March 1591-2, and commenced M.A. in 1592.
Thesaurus
Idioms & Phrases
Example Bank
601
Here the anthem doth commence:
Wiktionary02
His heaven commences ere the world be past!
Wiktionary03
He commenced dressing at top by donning his beaver hat, a very tall one, by the by, and then—still minus his trowsers—he hunted up his boots.
Wiktionary04
The meeting will commence.
Tatoeba · #2243205
The conference will commence in due course.
Tatoeba · #2249906
Please commence with the vows.
Tatoeba · #8390788Usage Notes
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