ˈōp-niŋ
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
Relevance
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in freeing
to rid the surface of (as an area) from things in the way
snowplows opened the runway without much trouble
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in initial
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of opening
David Sims, The Atlantic, 18 Sep. 2025
For instance, by happenstance, on the opening day of IBC filmmaker Steve McQueen (12 Years a Slave) began continuously projecting Occupied City, his 32-hour documentary about the Nazi occupation of Amsterdam on the outside walls of the Rijksmuseum, the Netherlands’ most distinguished museum.
—David Bloom, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025
This is just one step in changing that, with hopefully more openings to come in the future.
—Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 14 Oct. 2025
Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Oct. 2025
The Women’s Hospital has delivered more than 75,000 babies and has offered private Labor, Delivery, Recovery, Postpartum suites since opening its doors in 1988.
—Memorialcare Saddleback Medical Center, Oc Register, 16 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for opening
Noun
All of that is just the opening salvo of the film, delivered with breakneck assurance by Anderson.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 18 Sep. 2025
For instance, by happenstance, on the opening day of IBC filmmaker Steve McQueen (12 Years a Slave) began continuously projecting Occupied City, his 32-hour documentary about the Nazi occupation of Amsterdam on the outside walls of the Rijksmuseum, the Netherlands’ most distinguished museum.
—David Bloom, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Verb
Job growth in recent months has been anemic, people are staying unemployed for longer, and there are now more unemployed people seeking work than there are job openings.
—Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025
This is just one step in changing that, with hopefully more openings to come in the future.
—Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
Orexi is now in soft-opening mode and will hold its grand opening in mid-November.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Oct. 2025
The Women’s Hospital has delivered more than 75,000 babies and has offered private Labor, Delivery, Recovery, Postpartum suites since opening its doors in 1988.
—Memorialcare Saddleback Medical Center, Oc Register, 16 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for opening
Recent Examples of Synonyms for opening
Noun
-
But if you too have been mesmerized by the Belle Époque aesthetics of recent video games like Lies of P and Clair Obscur, Halloween is the perfect opportunity to put on a red beret and parry with the best of them.—
James Factora,
Them.,
17 Oct. 2025
-
Arteta will need to use this as an opportunity to get more from other players in the squad.—
Art de Roché,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
At its center, the lens scores in the outstanding range at its maximum aperture (5,700 lines), though its edges and corners aren't as clear and bring the average score down into the excellent range for a 60MP chip (4,400 lines).—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
12 Oct. 2025
-
In Mint, Regan has widened the aperture and secured a buzzy cast, including a rare TV acting performance from Ben Coyle-Larner AKA hip-hop star Loyle Carner.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
8 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
And a lot of the pseudepigrapha, like the fake gospels and fake apocalypses, fill in gaps in the record that can serve latter-day, post-biblical purposes.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
16 Oct. 2025
-
The age gap between their characters was also something thought out by screenwriters David Swift, Charles Shyer, and Nancy Meyers (who also served as the film's director).—
Stephanie Wenger,
PEOPLE,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
If that awareness spreads to other highly tariffed sectors, from furniture to heavy machinery, this administration may unintentionally succeed in unlocking widespread adoption of circularity that has eluded its backers for decades.—
Justin Worland,
Time,
17 Oct. 2025
-
These ghost-like particles are key to unlocking some of the deepest mysteries of the universe.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
With the postgame handshakes delivered and the field gradually clearing, Rising and Brady Smigiel meet near the 45-yard line and embrace.—
Brian Hamilton,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
-
The first step for Palestinians is clearing the rubble, and then getting supplies needed for reconstruction, says NPR's Greg Myre, who is in Tel Aviv.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Despite months of military build-up, the escalation into a full-scale Russian invasion of Ukrainian territory in February 2022 and the subsequent imposition of sweeping and continuously expanding sanctions came as a major shock to thousands of transnational corporations.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
18 Oct. 2025
-
Crews expanding a major Lake Norman-area highway cut a gas line Friday, prompting evacuations and closing the busy road for hours, witnesses and town officials said.—
Joe Marusak,
Charlotte Observer,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
These suburban residents hope that vigilance will prevent the process of neighbourhood change from beginning.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
18 Oct. 2025
-
Holmes’ fight, however, was just beginning.—
Luke Cyphers,
Sportico.com,
17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Anyone who loses will receive five bonus bets that add up to the initial stake.—
Tyler Everett,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Oct. 2025
-
Calderhead focuses on the British tactic, enacted two days after the initial attack, of moving their fleet into Flushing Bay to anchor for the night.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
18 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Opening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/opening. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
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