2
: beginning, commencement
the onset of winter
the onset of age-related diseases
Synonyms
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
The Cboe Volatility Index jumped to levels not seen since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and during the Great Financial Crisis in 2008.
—
Brian Evans,tanaya MacHeel, CNBC, 11 Aug. 2024
Some people say warm weather or excessive exposure to the sun triggers their onset.
—Ken Alltucker, USA TODAY, 9 Aug. 2024
Absenteeism has been up nationwide since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
—Rory Linnane, Journal Sentinel, 9 Aug. 2024
The most recent one happened March 15, 2020, when central bankers lowered borrowing costs to near-zero as the onset of the coronavirus pandemic sent panic coursing across global markets.
—Compiled Bydemocrat-Gazette Stafffrom Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 6 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for onset 
Brian Evans,tanaya MacHeel, CNBC, 11 Aug. 2024
Some people say warm weather or excessive exposure to the sun triggers their onset.
—Ken Alltucker, USA TODAY, 9 Aug. 2024
Absenteeism has been up nationwide since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
—Rory Linnane, Journal Sentinel, 9 Aug. 2024
The most recent one happened March 15, 2020, when central bankers lowered borrowing costs to near-zero as the onset of the coronavirus pandemic sent panic coursing across global markets.
—Compiled Bydemocrat-Gazette Stafffrom Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 6 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for onset
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.
Dictionary Entries Near onset
Cite this Entry
“Onset.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/onset. Accessed 19 Aug. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
onset
noun
on·set
ˈȯn-ˌset 
ˈän-
Medical Definition
onset
noun
on·set
ˈȯn-ˌset, ˈän-
: the initial existence or symptoms of a disease
the onset of scarlet fever
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