Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of noun commencement

3 senses of commencement

Sense 1
beginning, commencement, first, outset, get-go, start, kickoff, starting time, showtime, offset -- (the time at which something is supposed to begin; "they got an early start"; "she knew from the get-go that he was the man for her")
       => point, point in time -- (an instant of time; "at that point I had to leave")

Sense 2
commencement, commencement exercise, commencement ceremony, graduation, graduation exercise -- (an academic exercise in which diplomas are conferred)
       => exercise -- ((usually plural) a ceremony that involves processions and speeches; "academic exercises")

Sense 3
beginning, start, commencement -- (the act of starting something; "he was responsible for the beginning of negotiations")
       => change of state -- (the act of changing something into something different in essential characteristics)