commencement
Where things begin
Commencement is a beginning or start: the commencement of hostilities, from the commencement of the trial.
The word is formal and appears often in legal and official contexts.
In American English, commencement also means a graduation ceremony—the beginning of life after school: She delivered the commencement address.
Academic completion document
- degreeUnit of measurement
- bachelor'sFirst university degree
- master'sAdvanced graduate credential
- doctorateHighest academic credential awarded
alumni · undergraduate · postgraduate · matriculation · graduate · thesis · dissertation · transcript
Ceremonial entrance music
- valedictorianTop-ranked graduating student
- keynoteCentral theme or speech
- diplomaAcademic completion document
- platformRaised flat structure
rostrum · baccalaureate · tassel · regalia · convocation · mortarboard · hooding · speaker
Point of creation
- inceptionFounding moment
- outsetInitial point of something
- dawnDay's first glow
- originStarting point or source
initiation · launch · onset · threshold · advent · foundation · kickoff · introduction
Celebratory events and activities
- receptionAct of receiving guests
- galaFestive formal occasion
- banquetFormal celebratory meal
- partyGathering for celebration
gathering · toast · congratulations · cheers · ceremony · send-off · family · photos
Notable point of reference
- watershedDrainage area boundary
- crossroadsMeeting of routes
- junctureCritical point of decision
- culminationHighest or final point
achievement · accomplishment · attainment · breakthrough · capstone · fruition · pinnacle · life-event
diploma
Academic completion document
- degreeUnit of measurement
- bachelor'sFirst university degree
- master'sAdvanced graduate credential
doctorate · alumni · undergraduate · postgraduate · matriculation · graduate · thesis · dissertation · transcript · honors
processional
Ceremonial entrance music
- valedictorianTop-ranked graduating student
- keynoteCentral theme or speech
- diplomaAcademic completion document
platform · rostrum · baccalaureate · tassel · regalia · convocation · mortarboard · hooding · speaker · procession
genesis
Point of creation
origin · initiation · launch · onset · threshold · advent · foundation · kickoff · introduction · birth
festivities
Celebratory events and activities
party · gathering · toast · congratulations · cheers · ceremony · send-off · family · photos · flowers
landmark
Notable point of reference
- watershedDrainage area boundary
- crossroadsMeeting of routes
- junctureCritical point of decision
culmination · achievement · accomplishment · attainment · breakthrough · capstone · fruition · pinnacle · life-event · transition
- college termsuniversity, community college, fall semester, spring semester, liberal arts college
- HarvardHarvard Yard, Harvard Square, Harvard Business School, Harvard Law School, Harvard alumni
- celebrationsgraduation, festival, party, wedding, fireworks
- eventsevent, events, party, parties, wedding
- schoolingelementary school, school, middle school, high school, primary schools
- Occasionswedding, birthday, anniversary, graduation, funeral
commencementend
Final portion or cessation
ending · conclusion · finish · termination · finale
commencementstop
Cease all motion
stoppage · cessation · halt · termination · discontinuation
- commencement speechOration at graduation ceremonies
- commencement speakerOne addressing graduates
- commencement addressFormal graduation ceremony speech
- commencement speechesOrations at degree ceremonies
- commencement ceremonyFormal degree-conferring event
- commencement addressesSpeeches at graduation ceremonies