COMMENCES Synonyms: 94 Similar and Opposite Words

commences

verb

present tense third-person singular of commence

as in begins

to take the first step in (a process or course of action) commence the festivities

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as in starts

to come into existence the games commenced early in the morning

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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 commences With a fury inside him, Garfield unleashes violence against them and commences the rebellion. — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 16 July 2026 The Genesis Scottish Open commences this week at The Renaissance Club in North Berwick, Scotland, as a significant co-sanctioned DP World Tour and PGA Tour event offering a $9 million purse. — Zach Schenfisch, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026 Players and coaches are away from team facilities, taking time to regroup before training camp commences at the end of July. — The Athletic Nfl Staff, New York Times, 8 July 2026 For borrowers looking to purchase a home or refinance their current one in this climate, however, there are also some strategic moves worth considering now, before the Fed's June meeting even commences. — Matt Richardson, CBS News, 12 June 2026 Mercury’s pre-retrograde shadow (the weeks leading up to the celestial backspin when the planet slows down), which began on June 13 in water Cancer, starts the story for the planet’s moonwalk that commences on June 29. — Lisa Stardust, Vogue, 10 June 2026 Looking back at Barber, Spark commences some light back-pedaling. — Literary Hub, 9 June 2026 Falling back to the pack and seven points shy of San Jose, which won 4-1 at BMO Stadium on Sunday, LAFC has seen its recent MLS stumbles coincide with advancing to a two-leg CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinal, which commences Wednesday at BMO Stadium and ends May 6 in Toluca, Mexico. — Josh Gross, Daily News, 24 Apr. 2026 But the Passover Seder also commences the 50-day historical journey to Mount Sinai, the metaphorical site where the Jewish people received the Torah, the laws and traditions that gave shape to their journey, their culture and societal structure. — Michael Pfleger, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for commences

Verb

The work begins each weekday morning, when members of the 10-person research team head out to collect samples from their daily list of traps.

— John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 14 Aug. 2026
The Championship season begins Friday, with Wolves hosting Blackburn in the opening game of what promises to be another fiercely competitive promotion race.

— Dean Jones, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of begins

Verb

Private capital and foreign governments are still building on mRNA, and a growing share of the world’s programs now originates in China.

— Jeff Coller, STAT, 6 Aug. 2026
The biggest share of overdose deaths involves fentanyl, which originates mostly in China and Mexico.

— Steve Chapman, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of originates

Verb

If risk management fails and a liability arises, hopefully it will be taken care of by liability insurance.

— Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026
According to the Sepsis Alliance — a nonprofit dedicated to understanding the life-threatening condition that arises from an infection in the body — some patients can experience post sepsis syndrome.

— Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of arises

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commencements

commences

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“Commences.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commences. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of commences

verb

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