[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/commence/)

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# commence

verb (commence, commences, commenced, commencing)

«commence» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

(formal) To begin or start. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/commence/#m1)

### In the lessons

A stiff official and exam word: "the exam will commence at nine". In maths problems: "the race commenced at 2:15" gives the start time. Phrases: commence work, commence the test.

### Examples

- The exam will commence in five minutes. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/commence/#x1)
- Building work commenced on the new library. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/commence/#x2)
- Please commence writing now. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/commence/#x3)
- The concert commenced at 7 pm and ended at 9 pm. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/commence/#x4)
- The ceremony will commence with a song. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/commence/#x5)
- Lessons commence at 8:45 each morning. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/commence/#x6)
- "After that," continued the North Wind, "the hunting commenced. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/commence/#x7)

### Note

Formal; in everyday talk say "begin" or "start". Noun: commencement (in the USA, a graduation ceremony). In time problems, the commence time is the start time: duration = end minus start.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «commence» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/commence/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«commence» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/commence.html) on Mova free.