commencement

/kəˈmensmənt/ (bre, ipa) · /kəˈmensmənt/ (ame, ipa) · /kə-ˈmen(t)s-mənt/ (ame, mw)

commencement — noun

  • commencementsingular
  • commencementsplural

1. the point in time when an event, process, or activity gets under way; a formal w

1.名詞C1
釋義

the point in time when an event, process, or activity gets under way; a formal word for when something first starts.

例句

The commencement of the rainy season forced the village to repair every roof in early June.

commencement of + noun for the start of a natural or scheduled event

Tamar signed the contract two weeks before the commencement of her new teaching job.

before/after the commencement of + noun phrase

同義詞
  • beginning

    neutral, everyday register

  • start

    shorter and far more common in speech

  • onset

    often used for negative or sudden events (an illness, winter)

  • inception

    very formal; usually used of organisations or schemes

反義詞

文法句型

commencement of + noun

用法筆記

Frequently appears in formal, legal, or official writing; in everyday speech, 'start' or 'beginning' is far more natural. Almost always uncountable and followed by 'of + noun'.

常見錯誤

❌We had a small commencement on Monday.
✅We had a small start on Monday.
💡'commencement' is too formal for casual events; it needs 'of + the named event'.

2. the ceremony, mainly at American universities and high schools, where students w

2.名詞B2
釋義

the ceremony, mainly at American universities and high schools, where students walk across a stage to collect their diplomas and celebrate finishing their studies.

例句

Nia's whole family flew to Boston to watch her commencement at the university.

attend / watch + commencement (a named institution)

The commencement was held outdoors, with rows of students in blue gowns and square caps.

passive: be held + venue (typical scene of the ceremony)

同義詞

文法句型

attend / hold + commencement

commencement + noun

用法筆記

Mainly American English; British speakers say 'graduation' or 'degree ceremony'. Very commonly used attributively in fixed pairs: 'commencement speech', 'commencement address', 'commencement day'.

常見錯誤

❌I will commencement next May.
✅I will graduate next May.
💡'commencement' is a noun (the ceremony), not a verb; the verb is 'graduate'.