kəˈmɛnsmənt ɡɹəˈdeɪʃən ɡɹəˈdeɪʃən ˌɡɹædʒuˈeɪʃən ˌɡɹædjuˈeɪʃən the successful completion of a program of study the act of arranging in grades a line (as on a vessel or ruler) that marks a measurement the ruler had 16 graduations per inch an academic exercise in which diplomas are conferred