onset

noun

on·​set ˈȯn-ˌset How to pronounce onset (audio)
ˈän-
1
: attack, assault
withstand the onset of the army
2
: beginning, commencement
the onset of winter
the onset of age-related diseases

Examples of onset in a Sentence

the walls withstood the onset of the first battalion the claim that if you take enough vitamin C at the onset of a cold, you'll often recover faster
Recent Examples on the Web Labor force participation rates have been on a decline — largely due to demographic changes and aging Baby Boomers — since hitting a high of 67.3% in early 2000, and had fallen to 63.3% in the month before the onset of the pandemic. Alicia Wallace, CNN, 7 Mar. 2024 But the average age of puberty onset keeps dropping, and researchers aren’t sure why, though there are plenty of possible reasons. Alexa Lee, STAT, 7 Mar. 2024 Meanwhile, the city has battled a barrage of apocalyptic headlines — fair or not — since the onset of the pandemic, which experts say could also affect residents’ perceptions of crime and safety. Reis Thebault, Washington Post, 7 Mar. 2024 The fossils of bones and the spores of dung-dwelling fungi each suggested that many large mammals were already in decline or even extinct thousands of years before the onset of the Younger Dryas; many others lingered long after. Zach St. George, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2024 Eligibility is limited to individuals with an age of onset of disability before turning age 26. Winnie Sun, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 The typical age of onset for menopause is a broad range — typically from 45 to 55. Taijuan Moorman, USA TODAY, 27 Feb. 2024 Restaurants fight cost of living crisis Many restaurants have battled rising costs since the onset of COVID-19 and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Byryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 20 Feb. 2024 From the onset, these transactions can affect capital structure, liquidity and the balance sheet of both acquiring and acquired companies, potentially altering their financial health and operational strategies. Expert Panel®, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'onset.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1522, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of onset was circa 1522

Dictionary Entries Near onset

Cite this Entry

“Onset.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/onset. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

onset

noun
on·​set ˈȯn-ˌset How to pronounce onset (audio)
ˈän-

Medical Definition

onset

noun
: the initial existence or symptoms of a disease
the onset of scarlet fever

More from Merriam-Webster on onset

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!