commence

Intermediatezipf 3.59

Pronunciation

/kəˈmɛns/(kuh-MENS)

Part of speech

verbformal

Chinese

开始；着手（正式用语）

Definition

To begin something formally or officially.

Word family

commencement/kəˈmɛnsmənt/(n)开始/毕业典礼

Collocations

commence work
commence operations
commence proceedings
ceremony commences

Examples

1.Construction will commence next Monday. (formal start)
2.The commencement ceremony begins at 10 a.m. (graduation)

Synonyms

begin/bɪˈɡɪn/— neutral, everyday
initiate/ɪˈnɪʃieɪt/— start a process, formal
launch/lɔːntʃ/— start with energy, often projects/products

Etymology

com- (intensive) + initiare (to begin) — to formally begin