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 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 At first glance, the second-guessing commenced as Leading Change had only two career starts to his credit. — Danny Brewer, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026 The game commenced with four unanswered scores from Jenks and sloppy play from Southlake Carroll that included a handful of early penalties, messy substitutions and a lack of rhythm. — Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Aug. 2026 Hollywood Forever’s first event celebrating the group kicked off in 2005, when the statue was unveiled and a long-standing tradition of screening the Roger Corman classic commenced. — Lina Lecaro, SPIN, 28 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commenced
  1. began
  2. started
  3. launched
  4. originated
  5. opened
  6. arose
  7. appeared
  8. was
Verb
  • The death in a helicopter crash of Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo, his wife and three others has reverberated across government and industry circles on the continent, as investigators began examining what caused the aircraft to go down.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 2 Oct. 2026
  • When Tian’s solo project began gaining traction, Cui was pursuing a master’s in computer science and machine learning at the University of Toronto and working on autonomous-vehicle research.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of began
Verb
  • The last time the Chargers started 0-4 was 2017, their first season back in Los Angeles.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Excluding immigration impact, the population decline has already started.
    — Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of started
Verb
  • The rise and fall of Joe Cool, the Camel cigarette advertising gimmick that launched a thousand teen smokers, was accomplished with a more top-down approach.
    — Kent Sepkowitz, STAT, 5 Oct. 2026
  • The cream was soft-launched in May, followed by Liquid Lift, while the enzyme cleanser is set to launch in October.
    — Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 5 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
  • In June, the group opened a series of arena dates ahead of Turnpike Troubadours and Muscadine Bloodline.
    — Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Sayegh, who owns the five-screen cinema in Cranford, near to New York City, will mark the centennial with a throwback screening of Padlocked, the silent film that opened the theater’s doors on November 29, 1926, with an accompanying organ player.
    — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of opened
Verb
  • The case arose because Colorado’s new Universal Preschool Program only provides funding to preschools that agree to abide by a nondiscrimination policy.
    — Mark Satta, The Conversation, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The filing, made in April but posted online Monday, comes after questions arose earlier this year about the nature of Kristi Noem’s relationship with a top advisor.
    — Hannah Schoenbaum, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of arose
Verb
  • Late in the game, Tyquan Thornton made a 45-yard reception but appeared to seriously injury his ankle as he was tackled.
    — Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 5 Oct. 2026
  • According to a photo from the scene, one appeared to have blood on its hind leg; the other appeared relieved to have its friend back.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of appeared
Verb
  • The sound of the music was one thing—even when Stereolab were at their loungiest or Stars of the Lid were including the key in which a song was composed in its title, there was something like the faintest air of rock music in their experiments.
    — Sadie Sartini Garner, Pitchfork, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Strada defends execution protocol There was no immediate response from Pike’s lawyers for an update Saturday on her condition at a hospital.
    — Ed White, Los Angeles Times, 3 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 9 Oct. 2026.

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