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commence
/kəˈmɛns/
to begin
The meeting will commence at 9 AM sharp.
The meeting will start exactly at 9 AM.
formal
to begin or start something
The ceremony is scheduled to commence at noon.
The ceremony is planned to begin at noon.
She commenced her speech with a thank-you to the audience.
She started her speech by thanking the audience.
More formal than 'start' or 'begin', often used in legal, ceremonial, or official contexts.
Collocations
commence withto start something by doing a particular thing firstcommence operationsto start working or functioningcommence legal proceedingsto officially start a lawsuit
Pro Tip
When to use 'commence' instead of 'begin'
Use 'commence' in formal settings like ceremonies, legal documents, or official announcements. For casual conversations, 'begin' or 'start' are more natural.
Gold Rule
Formality level
'Commence' is significantly more formal than 'begin' or 'start'. Avoid using it in informal contexts unless you are intentionally sounding formal or archaic.
Word Origin
From Old French 'commencer' (12th century), from Late Latin 'cominitiare' ('to begin'), from Latin 'com-' (together, with) + 'initiare' (to initiate). The spelling was influenced by Latin 'commencium' (beginning).
Usage Notes
While 'commence' and 'begin' are often interchangeable, 'commence' is more formal and less common in everyday speech. It is frequently used in legal, military, or ceremonial contexts.
Word Breakdown
com-
together, with
prefix-menc-
beginning
root-e
verb suffix
suffixEnglish Dictionary