commence
/kəˈmɛns/
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Also seen as: commences · commencing · commenced
Sense 1
Meaning · English
To begin, start.
Verb
Examples
Here the anthem doth commence:
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
To begin, start.
Verb
Examples
The speeches commenced three days of workshops, seminars, and cultural activities.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “commence” mean?
To begin, start.
Is “commence” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.