opening gambit
noun
: a first move
Their opening gambit in the negotiations was to demand a wage hike.
Examples of opening gambit in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Meeting the client’s immediate needs is just the opening gambit.
—
Alexander Puutio, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Yes, Trump had already made certain concessions in advance, by preemptively walking back his outrageous opening gambit in the tariff war when markets rebelled against the policy.
—Ross Douthat, Mercury News, 3 Aug. 2025
Leaders of eight major European countries met Monday to coordinate a response, after being caught on their back foot by Trump’s opening gambit on Russia-Ukraine talks.
—Ellen Mitchell, The Hill, 17 Feb. 2025
Trump’s social media post may have been just an opening gambit.
—Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 5 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for opening gambit
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Alexander Puutio, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Yes, Trump had already made certain concessions in advance, by preemptively walking back his outrageous opening gambit in the tariff war when markets rebelled against the policy.
—Ross Douthat, Mercury News, 3 Aug. 2025
Leaders of eight major European countries met Monday to coordinate a response, after being caught on their back foot by Trump’s opening gambit on Russia-Ukraine talks.
—Ellen Mitchell, The Hill, 17 Feb. 2025
Trump’s social media post may have been just an opening gambit.
—Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 5 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for opening gambit
Cite this Entry
“Opening gambit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/opening%20gambit. Accessed 24 Aug. 2025.
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