graduation

noun

grad·​u·​a·​tion ˌgra-jə-ˈwā-shən 

1

: a mark on an instrument or vessel indicating degrees or quantity

also : these marks

2

a

: the award or acceptance of an academic degree or diploma

b

: commencement

3

: arrangement in degrees or ranks

Synonyms

• hierarchy
• ladder
• ordering
• ranking
• scale

Examples of graduation in a Sentence

He joined the navy after graduation.

We had a party to celebrate her graduation from high school.

They took lots of pictures at their son's graduation.

Recent Examples on the Web

Measure and report the % of students who have a good job waiting for them upon graduation. —Brandon Busteed, Forbes, 21 Dec. 2024

The former talk show host, 60, was photographed on Thursday, December 19 attending son Kevin Hunter Jr.'s college graduation from Florida International University in Miami. —Gord Magill, Newsweek, 21 Dec. 2024

Sean plans on studying Engineering at the University of Tennessee after graduation. —Andy Humbles, The Tennessean, 20 Dec. 2024

Questions about graduation can be answered through the school’s graduation chatbot by texting 855-603-0652. —Helen Rummel, The Arizona Republic, 16 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1594, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

graduation

noun

grad·​u·​a·​tion ˌgraj-ə-ˈwā-shən 

1

: a mark or the marks on an instrument or container indicating degrees or quantity

2

a

: an act or process of graduating

b

: the ceremony marking the completion by a student of a course of study at a school or college : commencement

3

: arrangement in degrees or ranks