Definition Definition

commence - Meaning and Examples

Meaning of 'commence' (Webster Dictionary)

1 . Commence [ v. i.]
- To have a beginning or origin; to originate; to start; to begin.
- To begin to be, or to act as.
- To take a degree at a university.
2 . Commence [ v. t.]
- To enter upon; to begin; to perform the first act of.

Meaning of 'commence' (Princeton's WordNet)

1 . commence [ v]
Meaning (1):
- set in motion, cause to start
Example in sentence:
  • begin a new chapter in your life;
  • The Iraqis began hostilities;
  • The U.S. started a war in the Middle East
Meaning (2):
- take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
Example in sentence:
  • Get working as soon as the sun rises!;
  • He began early in the day;
  • Let's get down to work now;
  • The first tourists began to arrive in Cambodia;
  • We began working at dawn;
  • Who will start?
Meaning (3):
- get off the ground
Example in sentence:
  • I start my day with a good breakfast;
  • The afternoon session begins at 4 PM;
  • The blood shed started when the partisans launched a surprise attack;
  • We began the new semester;
  • We embarked on an exciting enterprise;
  • Who started this company?