curtain-raiser
noun
cur·tain-rais·er
ˈkər-tᵊn-ˌrā-zər 
1
: a short play usually of one scene that is presented before the main full-length drama
2
: a usually short preliminary to a main event
Synonyms
Examples of curtain-raiser in a Sentence
the opening of the performing arts center proved to be a curtain-raiser for the rebirth of the city's downtown
Recent Examples on the Web
There was a burst of clapping right before the initial point, a curtain-raiser befitting the show about to unfold.
—
CBS News, 7 Sep. 2024
By Koh Ewe May 9, 2024 6:45 AM EDT
Malaysia’s domestic soccer league was meant to kick off on Friday with a match between its top two teams that serves both as the Malaysia Charity Shield and the league curtain-raiser.
—Koh Ewe, TIME, 9 May 2024
Catt sings in a jingly Tin Pan Alley curtain-raiser, eager to make men comfortable with the idea of extending the franchise.
—Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 2 May 2024
The curtain-raiser traditionally took place at the home of the Serie A champion and was a nice day out for the fans.
—Daniella Matar, USA TODAY, 17 Jan. 2024
The film is also one of two curtain-raisers for the Hong Kong International Film Festival, opening on March 30.
—Vivienne Chow, Variety, 17 Mar. 2023
CBS News, 7 Sep. 2024
By Koh Ewe May 9, 2024 6:45 AM EDT
Malaysia’s domestic soccer league was meant to kick off on Friday with a match between its top two teams that serves both as the Malaysia Charity Shield and the league curtain-raiser.
—Koh Ewe, TIME, 9 May 2024
Catt sings in a jingly Tin Pan Alley curtain-raiser, eager to make men comfortable with the idea of extending the franchise.
—Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 2 May 2024
The curtain-raiser traditionally took place at the home of the Serie A champion and was a nice day out for the fans.
—Daniella Matar, USA TODAY, 17 Jan. 2024
The film is also one of two curtain-raisers for the Hong Kong International Film Festival, opening on March 30.
—Vivienne Chow, Variety, 17 Mar. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'curtain-raiser.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near curtain-raiser
Cite this Entry
“Curtain-raiser.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/curtain-raiser. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.
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