opening 1 of 3

ˈōp-niŋ

opening

2 of 3

adjective

opening

3 of 3

verb

present participle of open
1
2
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
5

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of opening
Noun
And there’s an unbelievable opening scene with Buzz Lightyear. Maddie Garfinkle, People.com, 19 Apr. 2025 But even with this, Denver looked outmatched from the opening tip, as the Clippers seemed to want the game more. Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Apr. 2025
Verb
India was undergoing a medical evaluation late Sunday afternoon following the conclusion of the Royals’ 6-2 loss in the season-opening series finale. Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 31 Mar. 2025 After opening the 2025 season on the road with four games against the Seattle Mariners, the A’s will host the Chicago Cubs for three games — Monday, March 31, through Wednesday, April 2 — at Sutter Health Park. Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 31 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for opening
Recent Examples of Synonyms for opening
Noun
  • Exploring this 1,583-square-mile wilderness area in Montana’s Rocky Mountains with an EXP guide provides knowledgeable access to a tremendous amount of hiking trails, alpine lakes, cycling opportunities and wildlife watching.
    Food Drink Life, Mercury News, 22 Apr. 2025
  • Jim took the opportunity to blow off some steam during a shoot in Miami.
    Seija Rankin, HollywoodReporter, 22 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • That's good news as purple and green longitudinal chromatic aberration that's often visible with bright aperture lenses is all but impossible to remove with software, black-and-white conversions aside.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 17 Apr. 2025
  • And get an even closer look thanks to the 8 times digital zoom and 24mm objective aperture that offers a broader field of vision.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 10 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Assuming that the two indices continued to diverge by the current rate, the gap would only grow.
    Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2025
  • Next-Gen Anti-Ransomware Protection—Preemptive And Resilient Security Despite AV and EDR advancements, modern ransomware tactics—including encryption bypass and stealthy execution—continue to exploit gaps in endpoint defenses.
    Bob Kruse, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • As with the coal black tree snake, the atra tree snake has thus far only been found on its initial island of discovery, Misima.
    Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 24 Apr. 2025
  • YouTube announced its initial refresh of the TV app last year, letting creators organize around shows and seasons, but the new refresh will further refine the experience.
    Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 23 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Financial clout is not an issue, but unlocking the riches of being in the Champions League and its revenue is an ongoing challenge.
    Jacob Tanswell, The Athletic, 26 Dec. 2024
  • Advertisement The film also understands the power of unlocking such a dynamic, without being gratuitous about the visual details.
    Laura Ramadei, Los Angeles Times, 25 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Jackson is also considering expanding her part-time interior decorating business.
    Barbara Bry, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Apr. 2025
  • Instead, Apple pledged to fund a Houston data center for computer servers powering artificial intelligence — a technology the company is expanding into as part of an industrywide craze.
    Michael Liedtke, Chicago Tribune, 12 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The Russian Space Agency also has launched its share of space tourists, beginning with a California financier in 2001.
    Marcia Dunn, Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Luckily, beginning this week, whatever spun off the tracks should begin to get under control once again.
    Kyle Thomas, People.com, 13 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The Knicks obviously need Brunson to score 30 to have a chance.
    Mike Lupica, New York Daily News, 26 Apr. 2025
  • The more Hutson figures it out, the better the Canadiens’ chances become of pulling off an upset against the Capitals.
    Arpon Basu, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Opening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/opening. Accessed 4 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on opening

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!