Definitions for commence
kəˈmɛnscom·mence

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:2.3 / 3 votes

1. get down, begin, get, start out, start, set about, set out, commenceverb

   take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

   "We began working at dawn"; "Who will start?"; "Get working as soon as the sun rises!"; "The first tourists began to arrive in Cambodia"; "He began early in the day"; "Let's get down to work now"

2. begin, lead off, start, commenceverb

   set in motion, cause to start

   "The U.S. started a war in the Middle East"; "The Iraqis began hostilities"; "begin a new chapter in your life"

3. start, start up, embark on, commenceverb

   get off the ground

   "Who started this company?"; "We embarked on an exciting enterprise"; "I start my day with a good breakfast"; "We began the new semester"; "The afternoon session begins at 4 PM"; "The blood shed started when the partisans launched a surprise attack"

WiktionaryRate this definition:5.0 / 2 votes

1. commenceverb

   To begin, start.

2. Etymology: From commencer, from cominitiare, formed on com- + initiō

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. To Commenceverb

   To begin; to make a beginning of; as to commence a suit.

2. To COMMENCEverb

   Etymology: commencer, French.

   1. To begin; to take beginning.

   Why hath it given me earnest of success,
   Commencing in a truth. William Shakespeare, Macbeth.

   Man, conscious of his immortality, cannot be without concern for that state that is to commence after this life. John Rogers.

   2. To take a new character.

   If wit so much from ign’rance undergo,
   Ah! let not learning too commence its foe! Alexander Pope.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Commenceverb

   to have a beginning or origin; to originate; to start; to begin

2. Commenceverb

   to begin to be, or to act as

3. Commenceverb

   to take a degree at a university

4. Commenceverb

   to enter upon; to begin; to perform the first act of

5. Etymology: [F. commencer, OF. comencier, fr. L. com- + initiare to begin. See Initiate.]

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Commence

   kom-ens′, v.i. to begin: to originate: to take rise.—v.t. to begin: to originate: to enter upon: to take a university degree—e.g. 'to commence M.A.'—n. Commence′ment, the beginning: at certain universities the act of taking the degrees: the ceremony when these are conferred. [O. Fr. comencer—L. com, and initiāre, to begin—in, into, and īre, to go.]

British National Corpus

1. Verbs Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'commence' in Verbs Frequency: #855

How to pronounce commence?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say commence in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of commence in Chaldean Numerology is: 9

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of commence in Pythagorean Numerology is: 8

Examples of commence in a Sentence

1. New York:

   No one is above the law, including New York's top legal officer, i will be asking an appropriate New York District Attorney to commence an immediate investigation, and proceed as the facts merit.

2. TANAKA CHIMHANDE:

   Success commence within self. Non one is coming to transform your life. You are the merely architect of your life. Therefore, rise up, hope for the best and act forthwith.

3. James L. Gallogly:

   That false narrative is now also being used to question the motives and propriety of the ongoing investigation of alleged misconduct, the university was required by law to commence an investigation upon the receipt of complaint(s). That process has been ongoing according to its procedural mandate. The Jones Day law firm was hired to conduct an independent and unbiased, expert investigation and issue a report which the firm has now done.

4. Dax Shepard:

   Alright, Im going to commence the procedure, oh, yep, that feels weird.

5. Jason Tartick:

   We haven't seen Kaitlyn's family in over a year and a half, so we are heading to Cabo today for the week to celebrate, let the wedding planning commence !

Popularity rank by frequency of use