inception

noun

in·​cep·​tion in-ˈsep-shən How to pronounce inception (audio)
Synonyms of inceptionnext
: an act, process, or instance of beginning : commencement

Synonyms

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 
Choose the Right Synonym for inception

origin, source, inception, root mean the point at which something begins its course or existence.

origin applies to the things or persons from which something is ultimately derived and often to the causes operating before the thing itself comes into being.

an investigation into the origin of baseball

source applies more often to the point where something springs into being.

the source of the Nile
the source of recurrent trouble

inception stresses the beginning of something without implying causes.

the business has been a success since its inception

root suggests a first, ultimate, or fundamental source often not easily discerned.

the real root of the violence

Examples of inception in a Sentence

The project has been shrouded in controversy from its inception. Since its inception, the business has expanded to become a national retail chain. We'll assist you at every stage from inception to completion.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
It had been coupled with the men's tournament since its inception in 1991. —Tim Baysinger, Axios, 5 Nov. 2024 Since its inception in 1971, Starbucks, which is 125th on the Fortune 500, has been headquartered near its original Pike Place store in Seattle. —Chris Morris, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2024 Jubilee’s shows have chalked up more than 4 billion views since the channel’s inception in 2010. —Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 4 Nov. 2024 The annual returns of the fund since its inception in 2001 have averaged 10.1%, outperforming its reference or benchmark portfolio (8.7%) over the same period. —Rana Wehbe Watson, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for inception 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English incepcion, from Latin inception-, inceptio, from incipere to begin, from in- + capere to take

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of inception was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near inception

incept

inception

inceptive

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Inception.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inception. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

Copy Citation

Share

Kids Definition

inception

noun
in·​cep·​tion in-ˈsep-shən How to pronounce inception (audio)
: an act or instance of beginning

More from Merriam-Webster on inception

Nglish: Translation of inception for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of inception for Arabic Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See All

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Plural and Possessive Names: A Guide

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See All

Popular in Wordplay

See All

Terroir, Oenophile, & Magnum: Ten Words About Wine

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

10 Words from Taylor Swift Songs (Merriam's Version)

9 Superb Owl Words

15 Words That Used to Mean Something Different
See All

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
little chihuahua dressing like a turkey for thanksgiving
Is That Gratitude or Attitude? A Thanksgiving Quiz Decide which words express gratitude and which gi...