Which word means 'to start; to begin'?

• A. Origin
• B. Begin
• C. Initiate
• D. Commence

Answer: (D)

You're looking for a formal synonym for “start.” The best fit is the word that directly means to begin in a formal, official sense. Commence does exactly that: it means to begin, often used in ceremonies, meetings, or official statements. It has a formal tone, so you’d see it in contexts like “The conference will commence at noon.” Begin is correct and common, but commence carries a more formal register, which is why it’s the strongest match here. Initiate also means to start something, but it emphasizes triggering a process or starting something that involves steps, rather than simply the act of starting itself. Origin, meanwhile, is a noun (or a related verb form originate) referring to the source or beginning point, not the act of starting. So, the one that most precisely means to start in a formal sense is commence.