commence

UK: /kəˈmɛns/ US: /kəˈmɛns/ ,(kə mens′)

Inflections of 'commence' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

commences

v 3rd person singular

commencing

v pres p

commenced

v past

commenced

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

com•mence /kəˈmɛns/   v., -menced, -menc•ing. 

1. to begin;
   start: [no object]
   Let the festivities commence.
   [~ + object]
   We can commence the meeting.
   [~ + verb-ing]
   Commence firing!
   [~ + to + verb]
   He commenced to speak.

com•menc•er, n. [countable]
Synonyms

See begin.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

com•mence  (kə mens′), v.i., v.t., -menced, -menc•ing. 

1. to begin;
   start.

• Vulgar Latin *cominitiāre, equivalent. to Latin com- com- + initiāre to begin; see initiate
• Anglo-French, Middle French comencer
• Middle English commencen 1250–1300

com•mence′a•ble, adj. 
com•menc′er, n. 
Synonyms

originate, inaugurate. See begin. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

commence / kəˈmɛns/ verb

1. to start or begin; come or cause to come into being, operation, etc

Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French comencer, from Vulgar Latin cominitiāre (unattested), from Latin com- (intensive) + initiāre to begin, from initium a beginning