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
Suspicion about the authenticity of some of the artworks, including two paintings apiece by Jung-seob and Soo-keun, was apparently rife from the onset.
—
George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 4 July 2024
Immigration, which had swelled to as many as a million people a year beginning in the late 1840s, had dwindled to a trickle with the onset of our dangerous and deadly Civil War.
—Harold Holzer, New York Daily News, 4 July 2024
The age of onset is most likely to occur either in early adulthood (20 to 39) or late adulthood (65 and over).
—Corey Whelan, Verywell Health, 1 July 2024
Inter Miami pressed and created chances from the onset.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 30 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for onset 
George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 4 July 2024
Immigration, which had swelled to as many as a million people a year beginning in the late 1840s, had dwindled to a trickle with the onset of our dangerous and deadly Civil War.
—Harold Holzer, New York Daily News, 4 July 2024
The age of onset is most likely to occur either in early adulthood (20 to 39) or late adulthood (65 and over).
—Corey Whelan, Verywell Health, 1 July 2024
Inter Miami pressed and created chances from the onset.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 30 June 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 15 Jul. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share