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onset

/ˈɔnˌsɛt/noun2 syllables

Onset means: (military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons).

Synonyms for onset13

noun, as in (military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)

attack, onslaught, onrush

noun, as in the beginning or early stages

oncoming

also used for onset

start, beginning, birth, font, fount, inauguration, commencement, initiation, launch

Includes material from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.

What does onset mean?2

noun

1

(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)“the attack began at dawn”

2

the beginning or early stages“the onset of pneumonia”

Definitions from the Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Onset in a sentence

  • The onset of malaria is marked by nausea, vomiting, fever, chills, and headache._undertoad
  • Don't be alone, especially in the evening, at the onset of darkness.Nuel
  • She recalls the sudden onset of the symptoms late one night.Hybrid
  • We were surprised by the onset of cold weather.sundown
  • The part of a syllable after the onset is called the rime.shekitten
  • Capricorns have always taken the lead since the onset of all humanity.LoverofEnglish
  • The doctors are trying to delay the onset of the disease.IMer
  • We need to buy warm clothes before the onset of winter.IMer

Sentences from Tatoeba, CC BY 2.0 FR, credited to their authors.

Forms of onset

as a noun

plural
onsets