graduation
- 01 B1 Intermediate
the act of finishing your studies at a school, college, or university and getting a degree.
the successful completion of a course of study at an educational institution, resulting in the conferral of a degree or diploma.
Simple“After four years of hard work, her graduation from medical school was a proud moment.”
In context“The university tracks graduation rates over a five-year period to assess the effectiveness of its student support programmes.”
UsageOften used as an uncountable noun when referring to the general process.
Synonyms - 02 B1 Intermediate
the special event or party where students receive their diplomas.
a formal commencement ceremony where degrees or diplomas are publicly conferred upon students.
Simple“The whole family travelled across the country to attend his graduation.”
In context“The graduation was held in the main auditorium, featuring a keynote speech by a prominent civil rights lawyer.”
UsageCommonly used with the definite article 'the' or as an attributive noun like 'graduation ceremony'.
Teacher's tipIn American English, 'commencement' is a very common formal synonym for this event.
Synonyms - 03 C1 Advanced
the lines or marks on a container or tool used for measuring things.
a mark or series of marks on an instrument or container used to indicate a scale of measurement.
Simple“Check the graduations on the side of the jug to see how much water you need.”
In context“The technician noted that the graduations on the glass cylinder had faded, making it difficult to record precise volume measurements.”
UsageUsually appears in the plural form when referring to the set of marks on a scale.
From graduate + -ion.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.