commenced

verb

past tense of commence
1
as in began
to take the first step in (a process or course of action) commence the festivities

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in started
to come into existence the games commenced early in the morning

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of commenced Every belt buckle looks freshly yanked off the rack; every speck of signage resembles something painted 45 minutes before filming commenced that day. — Michael Phillips, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026 The group then commenced writing lyrics for their song, alternating between singing and rapping adorably. — Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 7 Oct. 2026 At a New Year’s Eve ball at the Chelsea School of Art in 1961, Saville, in his mid-30s and long married, was thunderstruck at the sight of the 23-year-old Pauline Boty, and the two commenced an affair. — Sean Wilentz, Rolling Stone, 6 Oct. 2026 The mountain, known to the Indigenous inhabitants of the region as the Six Grandfathers, was considered sacred, and construction commenced over the vehement objections of Native Americans. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 Sep. 2026 Circle has commenced a search for its next CFO with the assistance of an executive search firm. — Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 28 Sep. 2026 Ye Jianyuan The Suzhou MoCA was inaugurated nearly four years after construction commenced in December 2022. — Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 21 Sep. 2026 Then the Padres commenced giving him a big cushion, scoring two runs in the second inning and batting around and scoring five times in the second. — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Sep. 2026 As the wreckage of the World Trade Center’s Twin Towers smoldered, the United States commenced military operations in Afghanistan. — Daniel Byman, Foreign Affairs, 8 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commenced
  1. began
  2. started
  3. launched
  4. originated
  5. opened
  6. arose
  7. appeared
  8. was
Verb
  • Being bumped to a relief role required some selflessness from Seymour and Jax — both of whom began the season in the bullpen and were transitioned to the rotation.
    — Marc Topkin, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Its industrial humanoid super smart factory in Liuzhou, Guangxi, began operating on September 12.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of began
Verb
  • The problem is two of the guys have started dating between last year and this year.
    — R. Eric Thomas, Washington Post, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Eight years ago, Mann started his business in the living room of his apartment and was shooting on iPhones.
    — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of started
Verb
  • Earlier this year, the Dutch adaptation launched on RTL4 to more than 1 million viewers and a Polish version delivered TVN’s biggest primetime launch in five years, according to TF1.
    — Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026
  • The owner of The Armoury, a four-unit men’s retailer with locations in New York and Hong Kong, has acquired his largest brand, named a new creative director and launched a second career as a pseudo real estate developer.
    — Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of launched
Verb
  • The ruling led to cascading changes around the American South, but the case originated in Louisiana — specifically the 6th Congressional District that included Scotlandville.
    — Gary Fields, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The show originated as an idea by CAA’s Community & Impact (formerly CAA Foundation) in memory of Huvane.
    — Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of originated
Verb
  • Her most recent work, Elegies (2023), a documentary about Hong Kong poetry, opened Hong Kong International Film Festival and was nominated for the Golden Horse Awards.
    — Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Portrait Roma, the intimate flagship of the Portrait Collection, opened in 2006.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of opened
Verb
  • As other RFAs such as Connor Bedard and Drew Commesso agreed to new contracts, questions arose about whether Korchinski, 22, would remain in the Hawks system.
    — Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Hope arose that the Daryl Powell settlement in January would lead to a quick resolution of the remaining lawsuits filed against the iconic Manhattan church.
    — Luke Cyphers, Rolling Stone, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of arose
Verb
  • But Israeli commentators also professed shock, if not surprise, Sunday at how closely aligned the journalist and spin doctor appeared to be.
    — Ben Smith, semafor.com, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Huppert, who has appeared in three Hong films, was elected this year as the first female president of the Cinémathèque Française.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of appeared
Verb
  • There was just one white—Blanc de Lynch-Bages 2025—so everyone got that one correct.
    — Erin Florio, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Oct. 2026
  • When the drummer was compelled the leave the stage Thursday in Tulsa, there was some confusion during an approximate 25-minute break before the music resumed with Journey’s drum tech, Steve Toomey, taking over.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of was

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commence
commenced
commencement
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Cite this Entry

“Commenced.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commenced. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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