opener

noun

open·​er

ˈōp-nər,

ˈō-pə- 

: one that opens

a bottle opener

: such as

a

openers plural : cards of sufficient value for a player to open the betting in a poker game

b

: the first item, contest, or event of a series

Phrases

for openers

: to begin with

Examples of opener in a Sentence

The album's opener is a slow love song.

Recent Examples on the Web

But the Sixers came up with a defensive stop, and that allowed Philadelphia to win its regular-season opener. —Tony Jones, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025

Billups, 49, was arrested early on Thursday morning in Portland, hours after his team lost its season opener to the Minnesota Timberwolves. —Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 23 Oct. 2025

After the debate, Cuomo and Adams appeared together, court side, in the second half of the New York Knicks home opener, against the Cleveland Cavaliers. —Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 23 Oct. 2025

Tapped as the sixth man in the opener, being summoned off the bench before anyone else, Sexton sparkled in his Hornets’debut. —Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 23 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing opener

• bottle opener
• can opener
• eye-opener
• letter opener
• tin opener

Kids Definition

opener

noun

open·​er ˈōp-(ə-)nər 

: something used for opening

a bottle opener

a conversation opener