commencement
noun
com·mence·ment
kə-ˈmen(t)s-mənt 
1
: an act, instance, or time of commencing
They awaited the commencement of the trial.
2
a
: the ceremonies or the day for conferring degrees or diplomas
A Nobel Prize winner will speak at the commencement.
b
: the period of activities at this time
Commencement will kick off with a family reception followed by a banquet.
Examples of commencement in a Sentence
A poet will speak at the commencement.
there was a large turnout at the commencement of the conference, but the numbers dwindled as it progressed
Recent Examples on the Web
As commencement ceremonies celebrate the promise of a new generation of graduates, one question looms: will AI make their education pointless?
—
Erik Otárola-Castillo, Time, 7 June 2025
In a commencement ceremony in the Mustang Field, families and friends cheered as the graduates walked across the stage, marking the end of their high school careers and the beginning of their bright futures.
—Heather McRea, Oc Register, 6 June 2025
President Donald Trump arrives to deliver the commencement speech for the United States Military Academy graduating cadets in West Point, N.Y., Saturday, May 24, 2025.
—Tahar Rajab, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 June 2025
When Harvard President Alan Garber took the stage at commencement last week, he was met with cheers.
—Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 5 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for commencement
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Erik Otárola-Castillo, Time, 7 June 2025
In a commencement ceremony in the Mustang Field, families and friends cheered as the graduates walked across the stage, marking the end of their high school careers and the beginning of their bright futures.
—Heather McRea, Oc Register, 6 June 2025
President Donald Trump arrives to deliver the commencement speech for the United States Military Academy graduating cadets in West Point, N.Y., Saturday, May 24, 2025.
—Tahar Rajab, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 June 2025
When Harvard President Alan Garber took the stage at commencement last week, he was met with cheers.
—Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 5 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for commencement
Cite this Entry
“Commencement.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/commencement. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
commencement
noun
com·mence·ment
kə-ˈmen(t)s-mənt
1
: an act, instance, or time of commencing
2
: the ceremonies or the day for presenting degrees or diplomas to graduates of a school or college
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