Commence
verb
To start or begin something.
The play will commence at 8 p.m.
Often appears as...
- commence proceedings
- commence operation
Usage tips
Formal
verb
To start a legal process.
They are ready to commence legal proceedings against the company.
Often appears as...
- commence legal proceedings
- commence action
Usage tips
Formal
Technical
verb
To start or begin something.
The play will commence at 8 p.m.
Often appears as...
- commence proceedings
- commence operation
Usage tips
Formal
verb
To start a legal process.
They are ready to commence legal proceedings against the company.
Often appears as...
- commence legal proceedings
- commence action
Usage tips
Formal
Technical
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Event Kickoff
Often signals the official beginning of public events or functions.
The festival will commence with a firework display.
Pro Tip 2/3Formal Settings
More commonly used in formal or ceremonial contexts than 'start'.
Please take your seats, the ceremony will commence shortly.
Pro Tip 3/3Speech Introductions
Used to introduce the beginning of speeches and presentations.
Ladies and Gentlemen, we shall commence with the keynote address.
Pro Tip 1/3Event Kickoff
Often signals the official beginning of public events or functions.
The festival will commence with a firework display.
Pro Tip 2/3Formal Settings
More commonly used in formal or ceremonial contexts than 'start'.
Please take your seats, the ceremony will commence shortly.
Pro Tip 3/3Speech Introductions
Used to introduce the beginning of speeches and presentations.
Ladies and Gentlemen, we shall commence with the keynote address.
Pro Tip 1/3Event Kickoff
Often signals the official beginning of public events or functions.
The festival will commence with a firework display.
Pro Tip 2/3Formal Settings
More commonly used in formal or ceremonial contexts than 'start'.
Please take your seats, the ceremony will commence shortly.
Pro Tip 3/3Speech Introductions
Used to introduce the beginning of speeches and presentations.
Ladies and Gentlemen, we shall commence with the keynote address.
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Video examples
What AI is -- and isn't...
and choose not to consult the assistance of a doctor because we get it wrong, I would feel really bad about it. So we're currently doing clinical tests, and if these clinical tests commence and our data holds up, we might be able at some point to take this kind of technology and take it out of the Stanford clinic and bring it to the entire world,
Video examples
Karima Bennoune: The...
that they were able to have in the same venue, and this was the ninth youth performing arts festival held in Lahore in a year when that city had already experienced 44 terror attacks. This was a time when the Pakistani Taliban had commenced their systematic targeting of girls' schools that would culminate
Video examples
Ismael Nazario: What I...
So I just gave him a look in his eyes and I guess he saw the anger and frustration just burning, and he said to me, "Your eyes are going to get you in a lot of trouble, because you're looking like you want to fight." So he commenced to taking off his utility belt, he took off his shirt and his badge,
Video examples
Mark Kendall: Demo: A...
as a biomedical engineer and also as a human being, I'm not going to be satisfied until we've rolled this thing out, taken it out of the lab and got it to people in large numbers and particularly the people that need it the most. So we've commenced this particular journey,
Video examples
Barat Ali Batoor: My...
It made me think, am I doing the right thing? I concluded I really had no other choice but to go on. A few weeks later, we got the call from the people smuggler to alert us that the boat is ready for us to commence our sea journey.
Video examples
Why should you read "A...
As eyes flicker open, a night of chaos commences that includes broken hearts, mistaken identity, and transformations. Out of all the characters, Bottom probably fares the best – when the bewitched Titania lays eyes on him,
Video examples
My photographs bear...
the black population commenced the final phase of liberation from apartheid. One of the things I had to learn as a journalist was what to do with my anger. I had to use it, channel its energy, turn it into something
Video examples
Vampire Bats PIPE National...
in their noses this thermal process lets us see what the bat sees the bat wants to feed where the pig's skin glows white hot let the dining commence like to wildcatters fighting over a fresh oil
Video examples
How the Monkey King...
from the top of his head to the tip of his tail. With a cry of triumph, he woke his warriors to share his latest adventure— and commence another round of celebration.
Video examples
Vampire Bats PIPE National...
skin glows white hot let the dining commence like to wildcatters fighting over a fresh oil strike these bats battle over a particularly rich feeding
Video examples
What AI is -- and isn't...
and choose not to consult the assistance of a doctor because we get it wrong, I would feel really bad about it. So we're currently doing clinical tests, and if these clinical tests commence and our data holds up, we might be able at some point to take this kind of technology and take it out of the Stanford clinic and bring it to the entire world,
Video examples
Karima Bennoune: The...
that they were able to have in the same venue, and this was the ninth youth performing arts festival held in Lahore in a year when that city had already experienced 44 terror attacks. This was a time when the Pakistani Taliban had commenced their systematic targeting of girls' schools that would culminate
Video examples
Ismael Nazario: What I...
So I just gave him a look in his eyes and I guess he saw the anger and frustration just burning, and he said to me, "Your eyes are going to get you in a lot of trouble, because you're looking like you want to fight." So he commenced to taking off his utility belt, he took off his shirt and his badge,
Video examples
Mark Kendall: Demo: A...
as a biomedical engineer and also as a human being, I'm not going to be satisfied until we've rolled this thing out, taken it out of the lab and got it to people in large numbers and particularly the people that need it the most. So we've commenced this particular journey,
Video examples
Barat Ali Batoor: My...
It made me think, am I doing the right thing? I concluded I really had no other choice but to go on. A few weeks later, we got the call from the people smuggler to alert us that the boat is ready for us to commence our sea journey.
Video examples
Why should you read "A...
As eyes flicker open, a night of chaos commences that includes broken hearts, mistaken identity, and transformations. Out of all the characters, Bottom probably fares the best – when the bewitched Titania lays eyes on him,
Video examples
My photographs bear...
the black population commenced the final phase of liberation from apartheid. One of the things I had to learn as a journalist was what to do with my anger. I had to use it, channel its energy, turn it into something
Video examples
Vampire Bats PIPE National...
in their noses this thermal process lets us see what the bat sees the bat wants to feed where the pig's skin glows white hot let the dining commence like to wildcatters fighting over a fresh oil
Video examples
How the Monkey King...
from the top of his head to the tip of his tail. With a cry of triumph, he woke his warriors to share his latest adventure— and commence another round of celebration.
Video examples
Vampire Bats PIPE National...
skin glows white hot let the dining commence like to wildcatters fighting over a fresh oil strike these bats battle over a particularly rich feeding
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Charles Kennedy
British Politician
There stands no contradiction between giving voice to legitimate anxiety and at the same time, as and when exchange of fire commences, looking to the rest of the country, as well as all of us in the House, to give full moral support to our forces.
Quote examples
Leonardo da Vinci
Italian Artist
Although nature commences with reason and ends in experience it is necessary for us to do the opposite, that is to commence with experience and from this to proceed to investigate the reason.
Quote examples
Goldwin Smith
Canadian Historian
It is evident that in the period designated as that of the kings, when Rome commenced her career of conquest, she was, for that time and country, a great and wealthy city.
Quote examples
Rubina Dilaik
Indian Actress
My first priority is health and I want to be spiritually and mentally healthy, so that when I commence my next project, I am fit to give in my 100 percent time and energy.
Quote examples
Ernestine Rose
American Activist
The mass of the people commence life with no other capital than the union of head, hearts and hands. To the benefit of this best of capital the wife has no right.
Quote examples
Henry David Thoreau
American Author
A truly good book teaches me better than to read it. I must soon lay it down, and commence living on its hint. What I began by reading, I must finish by acting.
Quote examples
Montesquieu
French Philosopher
As soon as man enters into a state of society he loses the sense of his weakness; equality ceases, and then commences the state of war.
Quote examples
Edward Steichen
American Photographer
Once you really commence to see things, then you really commence to feel things.
Quote examples
Albert Einstein
German Physicist
Intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only at death.
Quote examples
Howard Carter
English Scientist
Commenced operations in the Valley of the Kings.
Quote examples
Charles Kennedy
British Politician
There stands no contradiction between giving voice to legitimate anxiety and at the same time, as and when exchange of fire commences, looking to the rest of the country, as well as all of us in the House, to give full moral support to our forces.
Quote examples
Leonardo da Vinci
Italian Artist
Although nature commences with reason and ends in experience it is necessary for us to do the opposite, that is to commence with experience and from this to proceed to investigate the reason.
Quote examples
Goldwin Smith
Canadian Historian
It is evident that in the period designated as that of the kings, when Rome commenced her career of conquest, she was, for that time and country, a great and wealthy city.
Quote examples
Rubina Dilaik
Indian Actress
My first priority is health and I want to be spiritually and mentally healthy, so that when I commence my next project, I am fit to give in my 100 percent time and energy.
Quote examples
Ernestine Rose
American Activist
The mass of the people commence life with no other capital than the union of head, hearts and hands. To the benefit of this best of capital the wife has no right.
Quote examples
Henry David Thoreau
American Author
A truly good book teaches me better than to read it. I must soon lay it down, and commence living on its hint. What I began by reading, I must finish by acting.
Quote examples
Montesquieu
French Philosopher
As soon as man enters into a state of society he loses the sense of his weakness; equality ceases, and then commences the state of war.
Quote examples
Edward Steichen
American Photographer
Once you really commence to see things, then you really commence to feel things.
Quote examples
Albert Einstein
German Physicist
Intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only at death.
Quote examples
Howard Carter
English Scientist
Commenced operations in the Valley of the Kings.
Example 1 of 10
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