Start vs. Commence — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique & Urooj Arif — Updated on March 27, 2024
Start implies the beginning of an action or process, often abrupt or from a standstill; commence suggests a more formal or ceremonial initiation.
Difference Between Start and Commence
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Start is a term widely used to indicate the beginning of an action, event, or process, often implying an immediate or spontaneous initiation. For example, one might start a race by suddenly sprinting from a standstill. Whereas commence is more formal and often used in official or ceremonial contexts, suggesting a planned or deliberate initiation. For instance, a university might commence its academic year with an opening ceremony.
While start is commonly used in everyday language and covers a broad range of activities, from starting a car to starting a conversation, commence often carries a sense of formality and preparation. Commence is less likely to be used in casual conversation and more in contexts that are structured or official, such as legal, academic, or ceremonial events.
Start can also imply the beginning of an action without any prior preparation or formality. It's versatile and applicable in various scenarios, from simple to complex processes. On the other hand, commence, while it can be used similarly, typically implies that some level of preparation or formality precedes the action.
In terms of emotional connotation, start can convey a sense of urgency or suddenness, capturing the essence of initiating something without delay. Whereas commence, with its formal tone, might not carry the same emotional weight, instead suggesting a measured and deliberate approach to beginning something.
Start is a word that integrates seamlessly into colloquial speech, reflecting its adaptability and wide-ranging applicability. Commence, conversely, might be chosen for effect or to elevate the language of a statement, aligning more closely with formal writing or speech.
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Comparison Chart
Formality
Informal, used in everyday language.
Formal, often used in official or ceremonial contexts.
Contexts
Broad usage across various contexts.
Preferred in formal, academic, or legal contexts.
Preceding Action
Can imply spontaneity, without prior preparation.
Suggests prior preparation or formality.
Emotional Connotation
Often conveys urgency or immediacy.
Carries a measured, deliberate tone.
Speech Level
Common in colloquial speech.
More likely used in elevated language or writings.
Compare with Definitions
Start
To begin from a point in time or space.
The trail starts at the edge of the park.
Commence
To initiate into an activity or process.
They will commence training the new employees tomorrow.
Start
To begin a movement, activity, or undertaking.
She starts her day with a cup of coffee.
Commence
To embark on a particular course of action.
The university commences its new curriculum this fall.
Start
To cause (a machine, device, etc.) to begin to operate.
He started the car in the cold morning.
Commence
To start to happen; to begin.
The meeting will commence with the president's speech.
Start
To initiate a process or action.
They start planning the project next week.
Commence
To begin, to start (often something formal or official).
The ceremony will commence at noon.
Start
To come into being or to attention.
A new problem started when the system crashed.
Commence
To signal the formal beginning of something.
The concert commenced with the national anthem.
Start
Begin or be reckoned from a particular point in time or space; come into being
We ate before the film started
The season starts in September
Below Roaring Springs the real desert starts
Commence
Begin
A public inquiry is due to commence on the 16th
His design team commenced work
Start
Cause to happen or begin
Those women started all the trouble
I'm starting a campaign to get the law changed
Two men started the blaze
Commence
To begin; start.
Start
Jerk or give a small jump from surprise or alarm
‘Oh my!’ she said, starting
Commence
To enter upon or have a beginning; start.
Start
The point in time or space at which something has its origin; the beginning
The event was a shambles from start to finish
He takes over as chief executive at the start of next year
His bicycle was found close to the start of a forest trail
Commence
(intransitive) To begin, start.
Start
A sudden movement of surprise or alarm
She awoke with a start
The woman gave a nervous start
Commence
(transitive) To begin to be, or to act as.
Start
To begin a movement, activity, or undertaking
She started to dance. The dog started barking. Once we start in, we'll get a feel for the project.
Commence
To take a degree at a university.
Start
To move on the initial part of a journey
They started for the summit.
Commence
To have a beginning or origin; to originate; to start; to begin.
Here the anthem doth commence.
His heaven commences ere the world be past.
Start
To have a beginning; commence
The movie starts at nine.
Commence
To begin to be, or to act as.
We commence judges ourselves.
Start
To come quickly into view, life, or activity; spring forth
The boy's tears started when the balloon popped.
Commence
To take a degree at a university.
I question whether the formality of commencing was used in that age.
Start
To have as an initial part or job
I started as an assistant.
Commence
To enter upon; to begin; to perform the first act of.
Many a wooer doth commence his suit.
Start
To move one's body or a part of it suddenly or involuntarily
Started at the loud noise.
Commence
Take the first step or steps in carrying out an action;
We began working at dawn
Who will start?
Get working as soon as the sun rises!
The first tourists began to arrive in Cambodia
He began early in the day
Let's get down to work now
Start
(Sports) To be in the initial lineup of a game or race.
Commence
Set in motion, cause to start;
The U.S. started a war in the Middle East
The Iraqis began hostilities
Begin a new chapter in your life
Start
To protrude or bulge
Eyes that fairly started from their sockets in fear.
Commence
Get off the ground;
Who started this company?
We embarked on an exciting enterprise
I start my day with a good breakfast
We began the new semester
The afternoon session begins at 4 PM
The blood shed started when the partisans launched a surprise attack
Start
To become loosened or disengaged.
Start
To take the first step in doing
We start work at dawn.
Start
To cause to come into being; make happen or originate
Bad wiring started the fire. The website started the rumor.
Start
To set into motion, operation, or activity
Start an engine.
A shot that started the race.
Start
To begin to attend
Start school.
Start
To cause (someone) to have an initial position or role
The manager started him in marketing.
Start
To play in the initial lineup of (a game).
Start
To put (a player) into the initial lineup of a game.
Start
To enter (a participant) into a race or game.
Start
To found; establish
Start a business.
Start
To tend in an early stage of development
Start seedlings.
Start
To rouse (game) from its hiding place or lair; flush.
Start
To cause to become displaced or loosened.
Start
An act of beginning; an initial effort
I made a start on keeping a journal.
Start
The beginning of a new construction project
An application for a building start.
Start
A result of an initial effort
What we did may not sound like much, but it's a start.
Start
A place or time of beginning
At the start of the decade.
Start
A starting line for a race.
Start
A signal to begin a race.
Start
An instance of beginning a race
A sprinter who improved her start.
Start
An instance of being in the starting lineup for a game, especially as a pitcher
In five starts, he has three wins.
Start
A startled reaction or movement.
Start
A part that has become dislocated or loosened.
Start
A position of advantage over others, as in a race or an endeavor; a lead
Our rivals have a three-month start in research.
Start
An opportunity granted to pursue a career or course of action.
Start
The beginning of an activity.
The movie was entertaining from start to finish.
Start
A sudden involuntary movement.
He woke with a start.
Start
The beginning point of a race, a board game, etc.
Captured pieces are returned to the start of the board.
Start
An appearance in a sports game, horserace, etc., from the beginning of the event.
Jones has been a substitute before, but made his first start for the team last Sunday.
Start
(horticulture) A young plant germinated in a pot to be transplanted later.
Start
An initial advantage over somebody else; a head start.
To get, or have, the start
Start
A happening or proceeding.
Start
An instance of starting.
Start
A projection or protrusion; that which pokes out.
Start
A handle, especially that of a plough.
Start
The curved or inclined front and bottom of a water wheel bucket.
Start
The arm, or level, of a gin, drawn around by a horse.
Start
(transitive) To begin, commence, initiate.
Start
To set in motion.
To start a stream of water;
To start a rumour;
To start a business
Start
To begin.
Start
To ready the operation of a vehicle or machine.
To start the engine
Start
To put or raise (a question, an objection); to put forward (a subject for discussion).
Start
To bring onto being or into view; to originate; to invent.
Start
(intransitive) To begin an activity.
The rain started at 9:00.
Start
(intransitive) To have its origin (at), begin.
The speed limit is 50 km/h, starting at the edge of town.
The blue line starts one foot away from the wall.
Start
To startle or be startled; to move or be moved suddenly.
Start
(intransitive) To jerk suddenly in surprise.
Start
(intransitive) To awaken suddenly.
Start
(transitive) To disturb and cause to move suddenly; to startle; to alarm; to rouse; to cause to flee or fly.
The hounds started a fox.
Start
(intransitive) To flinch or draw back.
Start
(transitive) To move suddenly from its place or position; to displace or loosen; to dislocate.
To start a bone;
The storm started the bolts in the vessel
Start
(intransitive) To break away, to come loose.
Start
To put into play.
Start
To pour out; to empty; to tap and begin drawing from.
To start a water cask
Start
To start one's periods (menstruation).
Have you started yet?
Start
To leap; to jump.
Start
To move suddenly, as with a spring or leap, from surprise, pain, or other sudden feeling or emotion, or by a voluntary act.
And maketh him out of his sleep to start.
I start as from some dreadful dream.
Keep your soul to the work when ready to start aside.
But if he start,It is the flesh of a corrupted heart.
Start
To set out; to commence a course, as a race or journey; to begin; as, to start in business.
At once they start, advancing in a line.
At intervals some bird from out the brakesStarts into voice a moment, then is still.
Start
To become somewhat displaced or loosened; as, a rivet or a seam may start under strain or pressure.
Start
To cause to move suddenly; to disturb suddenly; to startle; to alarm; to rouse; to cause to flee or fly; as, the hounds started a fox.
Upon malicious bravery dost thou comeTo start my quiet?
Brutus will start a spirit as soon as Cæsar.
Start
To bring into being or into view; to originate; to invent.
Sensual men agree in the pursuit of every pleasure they can start.
Start
To cause to move or act; to set going, running, or flowing; as, to start a railway train; to start a mill; to start a stream of water; to start a rumor; to start a business.
I was engaged in conversation upon a subject which the people love to start in discourse.
Start
To move suddenly from its place or position; to displace or loosen; to dislocate; as, to start a bone; the storm started the bolts in the vessel.
One, by a fall in wrestling, started the end of the clavicle from the sternum.
Start
To pour out; to empty; to tap and begin drawing from; as, to start a water cask.
Start
The act of starting; a sudden spring, leap, or motion, caused by surprise, fear, pain, or the like; any sudden motion, or beginning of motion.
The fright awakened Arcite with a start.
Start
A convulsive motion, twitch, or spasm; a spasmodic effort.
For she did speak in starts distractedly.
Nature does nothing by starts and leaps, or in a hurry.
Start
A sudden, unexpected movement; a sudden and capricious impulse; a sally; as, starts of fancy.
To check the starts and sallies of the soul.
Start
The beginning, as of a journey or a course of action; first motion from a place; act of setting out; the outset; - opposed to finish.
The start of first performance is all.
I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips,Straining upon the start.
At a start he was betwixt them two.
Start
A tail, or anything projecting like a tail.
Start
The handle, or tail, of a plow; also, any long handle.
Start
The curved or inclined front and bottom of a water-wheel bucket.
Start
The arm, or lever, of a gin, drawn around by a horse.
Start
A Treaty between the United States and the Soviet Union which provided for stepwise reductions in the number of nuclear weapons possessed by each country.
Start
The beginning of anything;
It was off to a good start
Start
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
Start
A turn to be a starter (in a game at the beginning);
He got his start because one of the regular pitchers was in the hospital
His starting meant that the coach thought he was one of their best linemen
Start
A sudden involuntary movement;
He awoke with a start
Start
The act of starting something;
He was responsible for the beginning of negotiations
Start
A line indicating the location of the start of a race or a game
Start
A signal to begin (as in a race);
The starting signal was a green light
The runners awaited the start
Start
Advantage gained by an early start as in a race;
With an hour's start he will be hard to catch
Start
Take the first step or steps in carrying out an action;
We began working at dawn
Who will start?
Get working as soon as the sun rises!
The first tourists began to arrive in Cambodia
He began early in the day
Let's get down to work now
Start
Set in motion, cause to start;
The U.S. started a war in the Middle East
The Iraqis began hostilities
Begin a new chapter in your life
Start
Leave;
The family took off for Florida
Start
Have a beginning, in a temporal, spatial, or evaluative sense;
The DMZ begins right over the hill
The second movement begins after the Allegro
Prices for these homes start at $250,000
Start
Bring into being;
He initiated a new program
Start a foundation
Start
Get off the ground;
Who started this company?
We embarked on an exciting enterprise
I start my day with a good breakfast
We began the new semester
The afternoon session begins at 4 PM
The blood shed started when the partisans launched a surprise attack
Start
Move or jump suddenly, as if in surprise or alarm;
She startled when I walked into the room
Start
Get going or set in motion;
We simply could not start the engine
Start up the computer
Start
Begin or set in motion;
I start at eight in the morning
Ready, set, go!
Start
Begin work or acting in a certain capacity, office or job;
Take up a position
Start a new job
Start
Play in the starting line-up
Start
Have a beginning characterized in some specified way;
The novel begins with a murder
My property begins with the three maple trees
Her day begins with a work-out
The semester begins with a convocation ceremony
Start
Begin an event that is implied and limited by the nature or inherent function of the direct object;
Begin a cigar
She started the soup while it was still hot
We started physics in 10th grade
Common Curiosities
Can "start" and "commence" be used interchangeably?
While they can be synonymous, "commence" is often chosen for formal contexts.
Do "start" and "commence" have the same emotional connotation?
"Start" often conveys urgency, whereas "commence" has a deliberate tone.
Which is more common in everyday conversation, "start" or "commence"?
"Start" is more common in everyday language due to its informality.
How does the choice between "start" and "commence" affect the tone of a statement?
Using "commence" can elevate the tone or formality of a statement.
Is "start" more casual than "commence"?
Yes, "start" is more informal and widely used, while "commence" is formal.
Can "start" imply spontaneity?
Yes, "start" can imply an action is taken spontaneously or immediately.
Does "commence" suggest prior preparation?
Yes, "commence" often implies some level of preparation or formality.
Can "start" be used for both informal and formal contexts?
Yes, "start" is versatile and can be used in both contexts, though "commence" is preferred for formality.
Is "start" appropriate for initiating devices or machines?
Yes, "start" is commonly used to indicate the beginning operation of machines.
Is "start" used more broadly than "commence"?
Yes, "start" has broader usage across various contexts.
Is there a context where "commence" is preferred over "start"?
Yes, in formal, academic, or ceremonial contexts, "commence" is preferred.
Does "commence" carry a specific connotation in legal contexts?
In legal contexts, "commence" can signify the formal initiation of proceedings.
Are there scenarios where "start" cannot replace "commence"?
In very formal writings or ceremonies, "start" might seem too informal to replace "commence."
Can "commence" be used in casual conversation?
While it can be used, it may sound overly formal in casual settings.
Do "start" and "commence" have different implications for preparation?
Yes, "start" can be more spontaneous, while "commence" suggests preparation.
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Bright vs. BriteAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
