ENGLISH
REFERENCE

graduate

n. countable
B1 Intermediate Oxford US //ˈɡɹædʒəˌweɪt// grad·u·ate General-service

n. a person who has successfully finished a course of study at a school, college, or university. You use this word to describe someone who has received their degree or diploma.

n. a person who has successfully completed a course of study or training, especially a person who has been awarded an undergraduate or first academic degree.


SIMPLE

She is a recent graduate of the local university.

CONTEXTUAL

The company is looking to hire a university graduate with a strong background in computer science for their entry-level developer role.

COMPLEX

While many graduates enter the workforce immediately after the ceremony, others choose to pursue advanced research or travel abroad before committing to a long-term career path.

Synonyms
Etymology 1

From Middle English graduat(e) (“(noun) a graduate of a university; (adjective) graduate, having graduated”, also used as the past participle of graduaten (“to graduate”)), borrowed from Medieval Latin graduātus (“graduated, graduate”), perfect passive participle of graduō (“to graduate”) (see -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), from gradus (“step”) + -ō (verb-forming suffix). The noun is originally derived within Latin from the adjective via substantivization, see -ate (noun-forming suffix). Sense 10 of the verb, relating to Japanese entertainment, is a semantic loan from Japanese 卒業 (sotsugyō).

Etymology 2

From Middle English graduaten (“to graduate”), from (adjective) graduat(e) (also used as the past participle of graduaten) + -en (verb-forming suffix), from Medieval Latin graduātus, see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and Etymology 1 for more.

Usage

Often followed by the preposition 'of' to indicate the institution attended.

Pitfall

He is a graduate from OxfordHe is a graduate of OxfordWhile you 'graduate from' a school (verb), you are a 'graduate of' a school (noun).

Idioms1 entry

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