ˈōp-niŋ
1
as in opportunity
a favorable combination of circumstances, time, and place
the talk show host's usual modus operandi is to talk over his guests, thereby denying them an opening to articulate their positions
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in aperture
a place in a surface allowing passage into or through a thing
an opening in the roof is letting rain drip inside
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in gap
an open space in a barrier (as a wall or hedge)
the rabbit found a little opening in the bushes and darted through
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in unlocking
to change from a closed to an open position
please open the door to let the cat out
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in clearing
to make passage through (something) possible by removing obstructions
we need to open this drain that's clogged with hair
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in expanding
to arrange the parts of (something) over a wider area
when we got too close, the cardinal opened its wings and flew to a higher branch
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in freeing
to rid the surface of (as an area) from things in the way
snowplows opened the runway without much trouble
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in beginning
to take the first step in (a process or course of action)
we will open the proceedings tomorrow with a short ceremony
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in initial
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of opening
Katie Bain, Billboard, 14 July 2025
Trump has embarked on one of the most consequential and controversial opening stretches of any presidential term in modern memory – striking Iran's nuclear facilities, overhauling the federal government and pursuing mass deportations.
—Zac Anderson, USA Today, 14 July 2025
Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 31 Mar. 2025
After opening the 2025 season on the road with four games against the Seattle Mariners, the A’s will host the Chicago Cubs for three games — Monday, March 31, through Wednesday, April 2 — at Sutter Health Park.
—Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 31 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for opening
Verb
Tickets for the event are on sale now, with UNITY’s opening weekend sold out.
—Katie Bain, Billboard, 14 July 2025
Trump has embarked on one of the most consequential and controversial opening stretches of any presidential term in modern memory – striking Iran's nuclear facilities, overhauling the federal government and pursuing mass deportations.
—Zac Anderson, USA Today, 14 July 2025
Adjective
India was undergoing a medical evaluation late Sunday afternoon following the conclusion of the Royals’ 6-2 loss in the season-opening series finale.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 31 Mar. 2025
After opening the 2025 season on the road with four games against the Seattle Mariners, the A’s will host the Chicago Cubs for three games — Monday, March 31, through Wednesday, April 2 — at Sutter Health Park.
—Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 31 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for opening
Recent Examples of Synonyms for opening
Noun
-
Hamlin and Guilbault want to offer busy home cooks the opportunity to still make tasty meals, but in a fraction of the time.—
Logan Holland,
People.com,
14 July 2025
-
For those who saw Varsity’s dominance as a troubling concentration of power—if not an outright antitrust issue—the collegiate space offered a rare opportunity: a chance to build something outside the reach of a deeply entrenched corporate force.—
Daniel Libit,
Sportico.com,
14 July 2025
Noun
-
Up close, with its apertures open, the T.50 looks both fabulously exotic and a masterpiece of packaging, somehow squeezing three people, 10.2 cubic feet of luggage space, and a V-12 engine into a footprint similar to a Porsche Boxster.—
Tim Pitt,
Robb Report,
9 July 2025
-
That’ll have a much wider aperture than a high-magnification eyepiece.—
Mike Lynch,
Twin Cities,
6 July 2025
Noun
-
While the case is ongoing and remains under regulatory review, with SEBI yet to issue a final ruling, the incident shines a light on the growing gap between retail traders and big institutions.—
Spriha Srivastava,
CNBC,
10 July 2025
-
The changes should spur the expansion of housing in urban areas that are close to jobs and transportation and make an impactful contribution toward addressing the housing crisis in California by narrowing the gap between housing demand and supply.—
Phillip Molnar,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 July 2025
Verb
-
Financial clout is not an issue, but unlocking the riches of being in the Champions League and its revenue is an ongoing challenge.—
Jacob Tanswell,
The Athletic,
26 Dec. 2024
-
Advertisement The film also understands the power of unlocking such a dynamic, without being gratuitous about the visual details.—
Laura Ramadei,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Jackson is also considering expanding her part-time interior decorating business.—
Barbara Bry,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Apr. 2025
-
Instead, Apple pledged to fund a Houston data center for computer servers powering artificial intelligence — a technology the company is expanding into as part of an industrywide craze.—
Michael Liedtke,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The Russian Space Agency also has launched its share of space tourists, beginning with a California financier in 2001.—
Marcia Dunn,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Apr. 2025
-
Luckily, beginning this week, whatever spun off the tracks should begin to get under control once again.—
Kyle Thomas,
People.com,
13 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
That's because the initial yield of NASA's Kepler space telescope, which discovered nearly 3,000 planets in its nine years of operation, relied on worlds transiting — passing between their star and Earth.—
Nola Taylor Tillman,
Space.com,
15 July 2025
-
That makes the the initial 0.5% of income donated to charity not deductible.—
Bruce Brumberg,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
Noun
-
But there’s also a chance Decker has left the area.—
Cindy Von Quednow,
CNN Money,
7 July 2025
-
Early backers have the chance to buy the device for $1,374, which is nearly half its usual $2,727 cost.—
Bryan Hood,
Robb Report,
7 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Opening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/opening. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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