Commencing
/kəˈmɛnsɪŋ/
verbIntermediateCommonGeneral
Meaning
Question
Definitions
1
To begin or start something.
/kəˈmɛnsɪŋ/
verbneutralIntermediate
General
To begin; to start.
The concert is commencing shortly.
💡 Simply: It's like saying 'starting' or 'beginning', but sounds a little fancier. For example, 'The movie is commencing soon' means it's about to start.
👶 For kids: It means to start something.
More Examples
2
Work on the new building is commencing next month.
How It's Used
Formal Writing
"The ceremony is commencing at noon."
Legal
"The trial is commencing next week."
From Middle English *commencen, from Old French commencer, from Latin com- 'together' + initiare 'to begin'.
Historically, 'commencing' was used more frequently in formal writing and legal documents.
Memory tip
Think 'commence' as 'come' + 'men' + 'cease' (to stop) - the men are coming together to stop inaction, signifying a start.
Practice
Base: commence
comencingcommencin
Usage
10%Spoken
90%Written