commencement exercises
Cap and gown
Commencement exercises are the formal ceremonies marking graduation from a school or university.
The phrase treats the event as structured activities—processions, speeches, conferring of degrees—rather than a simple celebration.
Often shortened to just commencement: She's giving the address at commencement exercises this year.
- graduatesDegree recipients
- diplomaAcademic completion document
- processionFormal moving line
- pomp and circumstanceShowy formal ceremony
- facultyInherent power or ability
tassel turning · cap and gown · celebration · proud parents · ceremonial mace · valedictorian · keynote speech · recessional · keynote speaker · honorary degree · alumni · invocation · benediction · tassel · moving the tassel · cap toss · hood · academic regalia
commencement exercisesfreshman orientation
Introductory event for newcomers
new student orientation · orientation · matriculation · enrollment · admission
commencement exercisesinduction
Formal admission process
welcoming ceremony · initiation ceremony · opening ceremony · initiation · investiture
commencement, commence, commencing, commenced, commencements, exercise, exercises, exercised, exercising