opening

[ oh-puh-ning ]

noun

1. an act or instance of making or becoming open:

   The opening of the tomb gathered much publicity.

   Antonyms: closing

2. the act of a person or thing that opens:

   Her opening of the ceremony was brilliantly handled.

3. an unobstructed or unoccupied space or place:

   That narrow opening between buildings is a good place to shelter from the rain.

4. a void in solid matter; a gap, hole, or aperture:

   There was a little opening in the door they used as a peephole.

   Synonyms: rent, fissure, cleft, chasm, rift, breach, slit, orifice

5. a tract of land thinly wooded as compared with adjoining forest tracts.
6. the act of beginning; start; commencement:

   Tomorrow is the opening of a new session of Congress.

7. the first part or initial stage of anything:

   During the opening, the store had extra late hours.

8. an employment vacancy; an unfilled position or job:

   There are no openings for waitstaff at the moment.

9. an opportunity; chance.
10. a formal or official beginning, as of a sport season or a season's sale of goods:

    Today marks the opening of the deer-hunting season.

    Swimsuits sold well at the summer opening.

11. the first performance of a theatrical production.
12. the first public showing or use of something:

    It's rare for there to be so many journalists at the opening of an art exhibition.

13. a celebration of the first public showing or performance or of the first use or start of something:

    The new supermarket is going to give away prizes at its opening.

14. Law. the statement of the case made by counsel to the court or jury preliminary to adducing evidence.
15. a mode of beginning a game:

    a manual of chess openings.

adjective

1. first, inaugural, commencing, or beginning:

   The opening chapter of the book caught my attention immediately.

opening

/ ˈəʊpənɪŋ /

noun

1. the act of making or becoming open
2. a vacant or unobstructed space, esp one that will serve as a passageway; gap
3. a tract in a forest in which trees are scattered or absent
4. the first part or stage of something
5. 1. the first performance of something, esp a theatrical production
   2. ( as modifier )

      the opening night

6. a specific or formal sequence of moves at the start of any of certain games, esp chess or draughts
7. an opportunity or chance, esp for employment or promotion in a business concern
8. law the preliminary statement made by counsel to the court or jury before adducing evidence in support of his case

Other Words From

• pre·o·pen·ing adjective
• self-o·pen·ing adjective
• un·o·pen·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of opening¹

First recorded in 1125–75; Middle English; open ( def ) + -ing ¹( def )

Example Sentences

Intensely thoughtful adaptations like this restore it, opening our eyes to corners of recent history we’d otherwise miss and benefit from knowing.

From Salon

The former speaker also predicted Trump’s tariff threats could result in opening markets for American goods and promote fairer trade with countries like China.

From Los Angeles Times

So opening night arrives and we literally walk onstage, no idea if it’s going to work.

From Los Angeles Times

Opening the trial, prosecutor Nicholas Lumley KC said Charlie, who could "walk and talk", had suffered multiple injuries in the weeks and months before his death and he had been "cruelly neglected".

From BBC

There followed punishing defeats by England, France and the Netherlands, with competitive losses to Spain and the Euro 2024 humbling at the hands of the hosts on the opening night in Munich.

From BBC

Related Words

• commencement
• inauguration
• kickoff
• launch
• launching
• opener
• start