Synonyms of opening

opening 1 of 3

noun

1

as in opportunity

a favorable combination of circumstances, time, and place

the talk show host's usual modus operandi is to talk over his guests, thereby denying them an opening to articulate their positions

Synonyms & Similar Words

• opportunity
• chance
• room
• shot
• break
• play
• occasion
• way
• pass
• juncture

2

as in aperture

a place in a surface allowing passage into or through a thing

an opening in the roof is letting rain drip inside

Synonyms & Similar Words

• aperture
• hole
• crevice
• orifice
• slit
• perforation
• crack
• space
• slot
• entrance
• fissure
• split
• loophole
• tear
• cleft
• mouth
• exit
• rupture
• outlet
• slash
• rift
• vent
• gash
• intake
• breach
• pore
• cut
• inlet
• notch
• rent
• break
• punch
• puncture
• keyhole
• pinhole
• chink
• cranny
• buttonhole
• wormhole
• airhole
• peephole
• pothole
• pinprick
• knothole
• armhole

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• seal
• filling
• fill
• patch
• plug
• barrier
• filler
• stopper
• obstruction
• obstacle
• blockage

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• seal
• filling
• fill
• patch
• plug
• barrier
• filler
• stopper
• obstruction
• obstacle
• blockage

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3

as in gap

an open space in a barrier (as a wall or hedge)

the rabbit found a little opening in the bushes and darted through

Synonyms & Similar Words

• gap
• hole
• crevice
• interval
• crack
• rift
• breach
• break
• slit
• fissure
• rent
• void
• slot
• discontinuity
• gulf
• hiatus
• interstice
• split
• separation
• cleft
• aperture
• cavity
• orifice
• pore
• notch
• rupture
• chasm
• abyss
• fracture
• gape
• interspace
• chink
• cranny
• sundering
• severance

opening

2 of 3

adjective

as in starting

Synonyms & Similar Words

• starting
• initial
• inaugural
• beginning
• first
• original
• earliest
• maiden
• pioneer
• headmost
• leadoff
• primary
• foremost
• eminent
• premier
• superior

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• final
• last
• latter
• latest
• concluding
• terminal
• closing
• following
• ultimate
• lag
• succeeding
• eventual
• ensuing
• terminating
• consequent
• rearmost
• hindmost
• bottommost
• crowning
• decisive
• conclusive
• definitive

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• final
• last
• latter
• latest
• concluding
• terminal
• closing
• following
• ultimate
• lag
• succeeding
• eventual
• ensuing
• terminating
• consequent
• rearmost
• hindmost
• bottommost
• crowning
• decisive
• conclusive
• definitive

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opening

3 of 3

verb

present participle of open

1

as in unlocking

to change from a closed to an open position

please open the door to let the cat out

Synonyms & Similar Words

• unlocking
• unclosing
• unfolding
• unfurling
• unlatching
• unzipping
• unclasping
• unbolting
• unfastening
• slipping
• unbuttoning
• releasing
• disengaging
• unbarring
• unclenching

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• closing
• shutting
• locking
• barring
• fastening
• latching
• clasping
• bolting
• zipping (up)
• buttoning (up)

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• closing
• shutting
• locking
• barring
• fastening
• latching
• clasping
• bolting
• zipping (up)
• buttoning (up)

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2

as in clearing

to make passage through (something) possible by removing obstructions

we need to open this drain that's clogged with hair

Synonyms & Similar Words

• clearing
• unstopping
• facilitating
• freeing
• unclogging
• unplugging
• smoothing
• easing
• loosening (up)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• closing
• blocking
• stopping
• plugging (up)
• clogging (up)
• interfering (with)
• impeding
• obstructing
• damming (up)
• hindering
• hampering
• constricting
• encumbering
• blockading
• barricading
• trammelling
• trammeling

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• closing
• blocking
• stopping
• plugging (up)
• clogging (up)
• interfering (with)
• impeding
• obstructing
• damming (up)
• hindering
• hampering
• constricting
• encumbering
• blockading
• barricading
• trammelling
• trammeling

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3

as in expanding

to arrange the parts of (something) over a wider area

when we got too close, the cardinal opened its wings and flew to a higher branch

Synonyms & Similar Words

• expanding
• extending
• unfolding
• unfurling
• outspreading
• outstretching
• spreading (out)
• stretching (out)
• flaring (out)
• fanning (out)
• overspreading

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• closing
• contracting
• folding
• reducing
• compressing
• condensing
• compacting

• closing
• contracting
• folding
• reducing
• compressing
• condensing
• compacting

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4

as in facilitating

to rid the surface of (as an area) from things in the way

snowplows opened the runway without much trouble

Synonyms & Similar Words

• clearing
• facilitating
• unblocking
• freeing
• stripping
• unstopping
• smoothing
• easing
• unclogging
• unplugging
• unchoking
• uncluttering
• loosening (up)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• blocking
• closing
• stopping
• obstructing
• plugging
• clogging
• damming
• cluttering (up)

• blocking
• closing
• stopping
• obstructing
• plugging
• clogging
• damming
• cluttering (up)

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5

as in beginning

to take the first step in (a process or course of action)

we will open the proceedings tomorrow with a short ceremony

Synonyms & Similar Words

• beginning
• commencing
• launching
• starting
• creating
• initiating
• leading off
• kicking off
• getting off
• generating
• setting about
• originating
• inaugurating
• organizing
• getting going
• establishing
• getting to
• falling (to)
• embarking (on or upon)
• inventing
• adopting
• entering (into or upon)
• founding
• innovating
• spawning
• striking (into)
• pioneering
• instituting
• embracing
• taking on
• taking up
• fathering
• getting around (to)
• getting round (to)
• getting down (to)
• setting up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ending
• finishing
• closing
• terminating
• concluding
• stopping
• halting
• completing
• leaving
• discontinuing
• laying off
• ceasing
• quitting
• abandoning
• destroying
• knocking off
• abolishing
• forsaking
• desisting
• extinguishing
• demolishing
• exterminating
• phasing out

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• ending
• finishing
• closing
• terminating
• concluding
• stopping
• halting
• completing
• leaving
• discontinuing
• laying off
• ceasing
• quitting
• abandoning
• destroying
• knocking off
• abolishing
• forsaking
• desisting
• extinguishing
• demolishing
• exterminating
• phasing out

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