noun
Uncommon
onset
ON-seht
Onset (noun) means the point at which something, especially an illness or a change, first begins. Example: “Doctors caught the disease at its onset, before symptoms appeared.”
noun
1
The point at which something, especially an illness or a change, first begins.
"Doctors caught the disease at its onset, before symptoms appeared."
"The onset of winter brought the first frost of the year."
"Rest and fluids help most at the onset of a cold."
2
In phonetics, the consonant sound or sounds that come before the vowel in a syllable.
"In the word "cat," the onset is the /k/ sound."
"The word 'string' has a three-consonant onset before its vowel."
"Children often drop the onset of a syllable when they first learn to talk."
How to use onset
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe very beginning of something, especially when it develops or arrives — a disease, a season, a change.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
sudden onset
onset of symptoms
onset of winter
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Word forms
- Plural
- onsets
- Third person singular
- onsets
Fill the gap
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Doctors caught the disease at its _____, before symptoms appeared.
Etymology
From on- + set, echoing the older Old English onsettan ("to press down upon, oppress").
Synonyms
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Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “onset” mean?
The word “onset” means the point at which something, especially an illness or a change, first begins. In plain terms, the very beginning of something, especially when it develops or arrives — a disease, a season, a change.
How do you pronounce “onset”?
“Onset” is pronounced ON-seht (/ˈɒnˌsɛt/ in IPA).
How do you use “onset” in a sentence?
Here is “onset” used in a sentence: “Doctors caught the disease at its onset, before symptoms appeared.”
What part of speech is “onset”?
“Onset” is a noun.
Where does the word “onset” come from?
The word “onset” comes from Old English. From on- + set, echoing the older Old English onsettan ("to press down upon, oppress").
Is “onset” a common word?
“Onset” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “onset” have?
“Onset” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the point at which something, especially an illness or a change, first begins.
What is the difference between onset and outset?
Onset typically describes the first appearance of something, especially an illness, symptom, or change, and often carries a sense of something arriving or taking hold. Outset refers more generally to the very beginning of any event, plan, or period of time, without that same connotation of something starting to affect you.
What does onset mean in phonetics?
In phonetics, the onset is the consonant sound or sounds that come before the vowel in a syllable. For example, in the syllable "stop," the onset is the "st" sound that precedes the vowel.
How is onset used when talking about illness?
When talking about illness, onset refers to the point at which the disease or symptoms first begin to appear. Doctors often describe onset as "sudden" or "gradual" depending on how quickly the condition develops.
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