inception

noun

in-ˈsep-shən How to pronounce inception (audio)
Definition of inceptionnext
as in beginning
the point at which something begins this seemed like a good program at its inception, but it isn't working out as planned

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word inception distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of inception are origin, root, and source. While all these words mean "the point at which something begins its course or existence," inception stresses the beginning of something without implying causes.

the business has been a success since its inception

When could origin be used to replace inception?

The words origin and inception are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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

When is root a more appropriate choice than inception?

The synonyms root and inception are sometimes interchangeable, but root suggests a first, ultimate, or fundamental source often not easily discerned.

the real root of the violence

When can source be used instead of inception?

While the synonyms source and inception are close in meaning, source applies more often to the point where something springs into being.

the source of the Nile
the source of recurrent trouble

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of inception Lisa Says Gah Italian Summer Baby Tote $58 Lisa Says Gah Since its inception in 2015, Lisa Says Gah—founded by Lisa Bühler—has emerged as a cool-girl destination serving up an array of interesting indie brands. —Perrie Samotin, Glamour, 31 Mar. 2025 Walters was a mainstay on the program from its inception in 1997 until 2014. —Liza Esquibias, People.com, 27 Mar. 2025 Since its inception, the festival has expanded its coverage to international cities like Lollapalooza Brazil, Lollapalooza India, Lollapalooza Argentina and Lollapalooza France. —Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 27 Mar. 2025 In this context, the AI Alliance established an impressive list of goals right from its inception. —Paul Smith-Goodson, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for inception
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inception
  1. beginning
  2. commencement
  3. start
  4. onset
  5. launch
  6. alpha
Noun
  • At the beginning of last year, Del Rey shared a snippet of the ballad without any context.
    — Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 11 Apr. 2025
  • At the beginning of Carrie Coon‘s time in Thailand filming this season of The White Lotus, she — along with her costars Leslie Bibb and Michelle Monaghan — was reckoning with the idea that their plotline felt much quieter than the others.
    — Seija Rankin, HollywoodReporter, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of beginning
Noun
  • Jeannie Leavitt, the first female fighter pilot in the U.S. Air Force, delivered the spring commencement speech last year.
    — Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Oscar winner Jane Fonda will deliver USC’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism commencement speech as its 2025 keynote speaker, the school announced today.
    — Tom Tapp, Deadline, 3 Apr. 2025
Definition of commencement
Noun
  • With his win last year, Scheffler joined Horton Smith as the only two golfers to earn his first two Masters wins in five or fewer starts.
    — Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Walmart stock was off to a hot start Wednesday morning, climbing 4 points (5.0%) in the first hour of trading.
    — Kevin Ryan, Quartz, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of start
Noun
  • More importantly, failing to articulate an acceptable mistake at the onset will leave your team without the language to define which levers were most important to drive business goals.
    — Rebecca Shaddix, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Measles rash appears three to five days after the onset of the first symptoms.
    — USA Today, USA Today, 7 Apr. 2025
Definition of onset
Noun
  • Electric Soul Eau de Parfum, the brand’s energetic new launch, serves as the perfect example.
    — Venus Wong, Refinery29, 1 Apr. 2025
  • The Weeknd celebrated the launch of his film Hurry Up Tomorrow‘s second trailer by gracing the stage at CinemaCon.
    — Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 1 Apr. 2025
Definition of launch
Noun
  • The bickering dynamic between Black and Momoa becomes the story’s driving force, with the rest of the cast left to roll their eyes at the wannabe alphas and/or jettisoned to their own subplots just to keep them out of the way (Myers and Brooks get the worst of both worlds).
    — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 2 Apr. 2025
  • Culkin no doubt relished the challenge of playing an alpha dog rather than the puppy-like sidekicks where he most frequently is cast.
    — Chris Jones, New York Daily News, 1 Apr. 2025
Definition of alpha

Browse Nearby Words

incentives
inception
inceptions
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Cite this Entry

“Inception.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inception. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.

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Nglish: Translation of inception for Spanish Speakers

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