graduation

noun

grad·​u·​a·​tion ˌgra-jə-ˈwā-shən How to pronounce graduation (audio)
1
: a mark on an instrument or vessel indicating degrees or quantity
also : these marks
2
a
: the award or acceptance of an academic degree or diploma
3
: arrangement in degrees or ranks

Examples of graduation in a Sentence

He joined the navy after graduation. We had a party to celebrate her graduation from high school. They took lots of pictures at their son's graduation.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The two-year graduation rate for the approximately 5,000 students who've gone through Great Expectations is higher than both those studies: 9.5%. Megan Pauly, NPR, 19 Jan. 2025 Nationally, the six-year graduation rate for first-generation students was around 50%, meaning about half of first-generation students who started their bachelor’s degree in 2016 completed it by 2022, according to the most recent data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. Elizabeth Hernandez, The Denver Post, 18 Jan. 2025 One in four Texas children are living with food insecurity, which causes developmental and health issues that impact graduation rates and the future workforce. David Faris, Newsweek, 17 Jan. 2025 In South Florida, graduation rates for the two largest school districts increased. Jack Evans, Miami Herald, 17 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for graduation 

Word History

First Known Use

1594, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of graduation was in 1594

Dictionary Entries Near graduation

Cite this Entry

“Graduation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/graduation. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

graduation

noun
grad·​u·​a·​tion ˌgraj-ə-ˈwā-shən How to pronounce graduation (audio)
1
: a mark or the marks on an instrument or container indicating degrees or quantity
2
a
: an act or process of graduating
b
: the ceremony marking the completion by a student of a course of study at a school or college : commencement
3
: arrangement in degrees or ranks

More from Merriam-Webster on graduation

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