onset
noun
, ˈän-\
Definition of onset
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Synonyms for onset
Synonyms
aggression, assault, attack, attempt, blitz, blitzkrieg, charge, coup de main, descent, offense (or offence), offensive, onslaught, raid, rush, strike
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Examples of onset in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
But as days get shorter with the onset of fall, noctilucent clouds will fade from view. — Andrew Fazekas, National Geographic, "Perseids peak, and more top stargazing events in August," 1 Aug. 2019 For many girls, migraine starts with the onset of puberty. — Anne Saker, Cincinnati.com, "Puberty and migraines have an early connection for girls, UC study finds," 16 July 2019 To date, more than 90% of those with AFM report having a mild respiratory infection or fever right before the onset of limb weakness. — Beth Mole, Ars Technica, "Mysterious illness that paralyzes healthy kids prompts plea from CDC," 10 July 2019 With the onset of World War II, Henry enlisted in the Navy at age 15, using the name of a relative a few years older. — New York Times, "Dr. Henry Lynch, 91, Dies; Found Hereditary Link in Cancer," 13 June 2019 Credit: Elizabeth Parent and Liam O'Leary HONORABLE MENTION Starlight Gone by Elizabeth Parent and Liam O’Leary Astrocytes, starlike brain cells that support nearby damaged cells, have recently been linked to the onset of depression. — Jennifer Leman, Scientific American, "The Brain in Images: Top Entries in the Art of Neuroscience," 29 July 2019 Utilities will be required to earn a safety certification, which links executive compensation to safety performance and requires companies to perform work to mitigate fire risk, before the onset of wildfire season in order to participate. — Los Angeles Times, "California utilities agree to pay $10.5 billion into new wildfire fund," 25 July 2019 This event would fall 10-14 days before the onset of the early-signing period. — Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, "Pac-12 football: Imagining a postseason PR blitz," 23 July 2019 For tiny clownfish babies, the onset of darkness triggers their eggs to hatch during a safer period, avoiding predation. — Jenny Howard, National Geographic, "These fish eggs aren't hatching. The culprit? Light pollution.," 9 July 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'onset.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for onset
onset
noun
English Language Learners Definition of onset
See the full definition for onset in the English Language Learners Dictionary
onset
noun
, ˈän-\
Kids Definition of onset
onset
noun
\
Medical Definition of onset
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