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 Wildcats football team built some buzz in the last year with the stadium opening, big-name staff hirings and transfers and publicized financial commitments. — Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026

Strong building codes, effective enforcement, stronger roofs, protected openings and sound roof-to-wall connections can interrupt the expensive cycle of destruction and reconstruction. — Kevin M. McCarty, Sun Sentinel, 27 Oct. 2026

Epic Universe welcomed four million visitors from its opening in May of 2025 until the end of the year, the report shows. — Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Oct. 2026

The district’s facility division acquired the land and managed the construction, which began in 2011, with the Camino Nuevo charter school opening in 2013. — Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 27 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