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
Making moves after learning is just as critical as learning from the onset.
—
Fnu Anupama, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
Alex’s attorney, Jim Griffin, revealed that the grieving husband and father was considered a person of interest from the onset of the authorities’ investigation into the murders.
—Lynsey Eidell, People.com, 7 June 2025
Coming midseason are Fox’s Doc Martin remake Best Medicine and Memories of a Killer, in which a hitman develops early onset Alzheimer’s.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 5 June 2025
Taking that into account from the onset, the filmmaker and creator first works to gain the trust of his subjects and search for the truth, and then find ways to express that by working in partnership with them.
—Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for onset
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Fnu Anupama, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
Alex’s attorney, Jim Griffin, revealed that the grieving husband and father was considered a person of interest from the onset of the authorities’ investigation into the murders.
—Lynsey Eidell, People.com, 7 June 2025
Coming midseason are Fox’s Doc Martin remake Best Medicine and Memories of a Killer, in which a hitman develops early onset Alzheimer’s.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 5 June 2025
Taking that into account from the onset, the filmmaker and creator first works to gain the trust of his subjects and search for the truth, and then find ways to express that by working in partnership with them.
—Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for onset
Cite this Entry
“Onset.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/onset. Accessed 13 Jun. 2025.
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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