opening

1 of 2

noun

open·​ing

ˈōp-niŋ, 

ˈō-pə- 

1

a

: an act or instance of making or becoming open

b

: an act or instance of beginning : commencement

especially : a formal and usually public event by which something new is put officially into operation

2

: something that is open: such as

a(1)

: breach, aperture

(2)

: an open width : span

a three-inch opening

b

: an area without trees or with scattered usually mature trees that occurs as a break in a forest

c

: two pages that face one another in a book

3

: something that constitutes a beginning: such as

a

: a usually planned series of moves made at the beginning of a game of chess or checkers compare endgame, middle game

b

: a first performance

attended the play's opening

4

a

: occasion, chance

She was waiting for an opening to tell her story.

b

: an opportunity for employment

The department has several openings.

opening

2 of 2

present participle of open entry 2

Synonyms of opening

Noun

• opportunity
• chance
• room

Examples of opening in a Sentence

Noun

the opening of a cave

They squeezed through a narrow opening between the fence and an oak tree.

The enemy's troops poured through an opening in our defenses.

We went to the play's opening.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The collaboration comes on the heels of Smythson’s new flagship opening at 575 Madison Avenue in New York, 25 years after the British stationer and leather accessories maker opened its first stand-alone store in the city. — Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2026

The October openings in the West follow the film’s earlier theatrical rollout across the Asia-Pacific region. — Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2026

Rocky’s third chart-topper and his first in more than a decade — moving 123,000 equivalent album units in its opening week, and also topped Australia’s ARIA Hip-Hop/R&B Albums chart. — Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 13 Oct. 2026

If an autumn getaway is in your future, these are the most exciting hotel openings to have top of mind. — Todd Plummer, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing opening

• cold opening
• grand opening
• opening crawl
• opening gambit
• opening hours
• opening night
• pre-opening

Rhymes for opening

• reopening

Kids Definition

opening

noun

open·​ing ˈōp-(ə-)niŋ 

1

: an act or instance of making or becoming open

the opening of a new store

welcome to our grand opening

2

: something that is open: as

a

: breach entry 1 sense 2b

b

: an open place

an opening in the woods

3

: beginning sense 2

the opening of fishing season

4

a

: occasion entry 1 sense 1, chance

saw an opening to run with the ball

b

: a job opportunity

openings for welders and machinists

Medical Definition

opening

noun

open·​ing ˈōp-(ə-)niŋ 

1

: an act or instance of making or becoming open

2

: something (as an anatomical aperture) that is open or opens