Word
commence
Meanings
to begin or start (something), especially in a formal or official way
to begin or start happening (at a particular time)
Definition
To commence means to begin something formally or at a particular time.
To commence is a formal verb meaning to start or begin an activity, event, or process. It is often used in official announcements, schedules, and academic contexts. You can commence something yourself, or something can commence at a stated time.
Examples
- The conference will commence at nine, so please arrive a few minutes early.
- I commenced my research project after reviewing the latest articles in the field.
- They commenced negotiations once both teams agreed on the agenda and ground rules.
- She commenced the presentation with a brief overview to align everyone’s expectations.
Common mistake
Learners often use "commence" in casual conversation where "start" sounds more natural.
More at C1 level
- ubiquitous Present, appearing, or found everywhere at the same time.
- xenophobia Xenophobia is a strong dislike or fear of people from other countries or cultures.
- genocide Genocide is the deliberate killing of a large number of people from a particular group in order to …
- conundrum A conundrum is a confusing and difficult problem to solve.
- pretentious Trying to seem more important, intelligent, or cultured than you really are.
More verbs
- analyze To examine something carefully in order to understand it or explain it.
- scrutinize To scrutinize something is to examine it very carefully and in detail.
- affect To affect something is to influence it or cause it to change.
- allude To allude means to mention or suggest something indirectly without saying it clearly.
- elude To elude someone or something is to avoid being caught, understood, or remembered.