Meaning & use
commence
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Meanings
verbtransitive or intransitiveformal
To start or begin something, especially in an official or formal way.
Grammar: Can take an object (commence work) or not (the ceremony will commence).
Patterns
- commence something
- commence doing something
- commence with something
The ceremony will commence at noon.
Work on the new bridge commenced last spring.
The judge commenced the trial with a short statement.
verbtransitivelegallaw
In law, to begin a legal action or process.
Grammar: Used with proceedings, action or case.
Patterns
- commence proceedings
- commence an action
The firm commenced proceedings against its former partner.
He commenced legal action last week.
The authority will commence an investigation.
verbintransitiveAmerican
To start a course of study, or graduate, in a U.S. academic setting.
Grammar: Linked to commencement ceremonies.
Patterns
- commence with something
Classes commence in August.
The students commenced their studies with a short course.
Graduates commence their careers after the ceremony.
Word forms
| third person singular | commences |
|---|---|
| past tense | commenced |
| past participle | commenced |
| -ing form | commencing |
Common combinations
- commence work
- Builders will commence work on Monday.
- commence proceedings
- The company will commence proceedings next month.
- commence at noon
- The meeting will commence at noon.
- officially commence
- The festival will officially commence tonight.
- commence operations
- The airline will commence operations in spring.
Synonyms and how they differ
- begin
- Begin is the everyday word, while commence is formal and used in official notices.
- start
- Start is the most casual choice and can also mean to set a machine going.
- initiate
- Initiate suggests deliberately setting something in motion.
- embark
- Embark is used with on, for a new journey or big project.
Opposites
Word family
- commencement noun
- a beginning, or a graduation ceremony in the U.S.
- recommence verb
- to begin again
- commencing adjective
- starting from a stated date
Commonly confused: commence or commend?
commence vs commend
Commend means to praise; it sounds similar but has a different meaning.
Practice
Which word is the most formal way to say that the trial will start next week?
Choose one answer.
Commence is the formal verb. Kick off, get going and fire up are casual.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “commence”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.