Commenced — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb /kə-ˈmen(t)s/ com·mence

Meaning & Definition of Commenced

Commenced (verb)

  1. to enter upon, begin
  2. to have or make a beginning, start
  3. to take a degree at a university

Commenced (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to take the first step in (a process or course of action)

    "commence the festivities"

    similar: began, embarked (on or upon), entered (into or upon), fell (to), got off, kicked off, launched, led off, opened, started, struck (into), got going, got to, set about
    related: created, generated, inaugurated, initiated, innovated, invented, originated, adopted, embraced, took on, took up, established, fathered, founded, instituted, organized, pioneered, set up, spawned, got around (to), got down (to), got round (to)
    opposite: concluded, ended, finished, terminated
    near: ceased, desisted, discontinued, halted, knocked off, laid off, quit, stopped, closed, completed, abandoned, forsook, left, abolished, demolished, destroyed, exterminated, extinguished, phased out

  2. to come into existence

    "the games commenced early in the morning"

    similar: actualized, appeared, arose, began, broke, dawned, engendered, formed, materialized, originated, set in, sprang, started
    related: breathed, existed, lived, subsisted, was, arrived, came on, emerged, coalesced, cohered, shaped (up), continued, endured, lasted, persisted, survived
    opposite: ceased, ended, stopped
    near: concluded, desisted, discontinued, finished, halted, quit, terminated, disappeared, dissolved, evaporated, vanished, departed, died, expired, passed away, perished

Related Entry: Commence (verb)

Commence is a different word from Commenced. The synonyms below are for commence, not for commenced.

  1. to take the first step in (a process or course of action)

    "commence the festivities"

    similar: begin, embark (on or upon), enter (into or upon), fall (to), get off, kick off, launch, lead off, open, start, strike (into), get going, get to, set about
    related: create, generate, inaugurate, initiate, innovate, invent, originate, adopt, embrace, take on, take up, establish, father, found, institute, organize, pioneer, set up, spawn, get around (to), get down (to), get round (to)
    opposite: conclude, end, finish, terminate
    near: cease, desist, discontinue, halt, knock off, lay off, quit, stop, close, complete, abandon, forsake, leave, abolish, demolish, destroy, exterminate, extinguish, phase out

  2. to come into existence

    "the games commenced early in the morning"

    similar: actualize, appear, arise, begin, break, dawn, engender, form, materialize, originate, set in, spring, start
    related: be, breathe, exist, live, subsist, arrive, come on, emerge, coalesce, cohere, shape (up), continue, endure, last, persist, survive
    opposite: cease, end, stop
    near: conclude, desist, discontinue, finish, halt, quit, terminate, disappear, dissolve, evaporate, vanish, depart, die, expire, pass away, perish

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Commenced

The most common words with a similar meaning to Commenced:

began, embarked (on or upon), entered (into or upon), fell (to), got off, kicked off, launched, led off, opened, started, struck (into), actualized, appeared, arose, broke, dawned, engendered, formed, materialized, originated, set in, sprang, got going, got to, set about

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Commenced

Words with the opposite meaning of Commenced:

concluded, ended, finished, terminated, ceased, stopped

Related Words for Commenced

created, generated, inaugurated, initiated, innovated, invented, adopted, embraced, took on, took up, established, fathered, founded, instituted, organized, pioneered, set up, spawned, got around (to), got down (to), got round (to), breathed, existed, lived, subsisted, was, arrived, came on, emerged, coalesced

Near Antonyms of Commenced

desisted, discontinued, halted, knocked off, laid off, quit, closed, completed, abandoned, forsook, left, abolished, demolished, destroyed, exterminated, extinguished, phased out, disappeared, dissolved, evaporated, vanished, departed, died, expired, passed away, perished

Word Forms of Commenced

Inflections: commencing

Derived words: commencer (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Commenced

Middle English comencen, from Anglo-French comencer, from Vulgar Latin *cominitiare, from Latin com- + Late Latin initiare to begin, from Latin, to initiate

First known use: 14th centuryt

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Commenced

Frequently Asked Questions about Commenced

What does "Commenced" mean?

"Commenced" means to enter upon, begin. As a verb, it is defined as: to enter upon, begin. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Commenced"?

Other words for "Commenced" include began, embarked (on or upon), entered (into or upon), fell (to), got off, kicked off, launched and led off. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Commenced" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Commenced"?

There are 62 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Commenced". Common alternatives include began, embarked (on or upon), entered (into or upon), fell (to), got off, kicked off, launched, led off, opened and started.

What is the opposite of "Commenced"?

Antonyms of "Commenced" include concluded, ended, finished, terminated, ceased and stopped. Near antonyms include desisted, discontinued, halted and knocked off.

How do you use "Commenced" in a sentence?

Examples of "Commenced" in a sentence: "commence the festivities"; "the games commenced early in the morning".

Is "Commenced" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Commenced" is a verb.

Is "Commenced" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

It is on the Academic Word List, so it appears often in IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, and university texts.

How do you pronounce "Commenced"?

"Commenced" is pronounced /kə-ˈmen(t)s/ and divided into syllables as com·mence.