commence
verb
com·mence
kə-ˈmen(t)s 
commenced; commencing
: to enter upon : begin
commence proceedings
commencer
noun
Synonyms
Examples of commence in a Sentence
Dear God, I thought, I've been infected by an earworm. My friend the Longhair says that's what you call songs that burrow into your head and commence chewing your brains.
—
Stephen King, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Apr./1 May 2009
He thereupon commenced giving me this fantastically boring lecture about how the only reason I want a stuffed chicken is because they look so good in a shop window, and that the moment I received one I'd start dreaming up ways to ditch it.
—Douglas Coupland, Generation X, 1991
The policy would commence not only with the limiting of permits for the building of hotels and boats but with supervision—through expert architectural advice—of the construction of these boats and hotels …
—William Styron, This Quiet Dust and Other Writings, (1953) 1982
"Why shoot, I thought you wanted to be a lawyer, you've already commenced going to court." The ladies laughed again.
—Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, 1960
I have commenced two letters to send you before this, both of which displeased me before I got half done, and so I tore them up.
—Abraham Lincoln, letter, 4 May 1837
The festivities will commence with a parade.
Their contract commences in January.
The court commenced criminal proceedings.
The country has commenced preparations for war.
Stephen King, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Apr./1 May 2009
He thereupon commenced giving me this fantastically boring lecture about how the only reason I want a stuffed chicken is because they look so good in a shop window, and that the moment I received one I'd start dreaming up ways to ditch it.
—Douglas Coupland, Generation X, 1991
The policy would commence not only with the limiting of permits for the building of hotels and boats but with supervision—through expert architectural advice—of the construction of these boats and hotels …
—William Styron, This Quiet Dust and Other Writings, (1953) 1982
"Why shoot, I thought you wanted to be a lawyer, you've already commenced going to court." The ladies laughed again.
—Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, 1960
I have commenced two letters to send you before this, both of which displeased me before I got half done, and so I tore them up.
—Abraham Lincoln, letter, 4 May 1837
The festivities will commence with a parade.
Their contract commences in January.
The court commenced criminal proceedings.
The country has commenced preparations for war.
Recent Examples on the Web
Speaking before a Chicago audience, Homan also reaffirmed the Trump administration’s plan to commence with the deportations soon after officially President-elect Donald Trump takes the office Jan. 20.
—Glenn Minnis | The Center Square Contributor, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 22 Dec. 2024
That commenced a vagabond tour of the big leagues in which Henderson played for seven different teams over his final eight seasons — including a fourth stint in Oakland in 1998.
—Gord Magill, Newsweek, 21 Dec. 2024
Well the discussions have just commenced according to a major local news source.
—Peter Lyon, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024
Without warning, an apron was tied around my waist, a large implement was placed in my hands, orders were issued, and the stirring commenced.
—Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 16 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for commence 
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Glenn Minnis | The Center Square Contributor, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 22 Dec. 2024
That commenced a vagabond tour of the big leagues in which Henderson played for seven different teams over his final eight seasons — including a fourth stint in Oakland in 1998.
—Gord Magill, Newsweek, 21 Dec. 2024
Well the discussions have just commenced according to a major local news source.
—Peter Lyon, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024
Without warning, an apron was tied around my waist, a large implement was placed in my hands, orders were issued, and the stirring commenced.
—Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 16 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for commence
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Dictionary Entries Near commence
Cite this Entry
“Commence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/commence. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.
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Etymology
Middle English comencen "to begin," from early French comencer (same meaning), probably from a Latin word cominitiare "to begin," from com- "with, together" and initiare "to begin" — related to initiate
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