Synonyms of opening

opening 1 of 3

noun

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

• opportunity
• chance
• room
• occasion
• shot
• break
• way
• play
• 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
• perforation
• slit
• crack
• space
• slot
• fissure
• entrance
• loophole
• split
• tear
• cleft
• rupture
• mouth
• outlet
• slash
• rift
• gash
• exit
• breach
• vent
• intake
• pore
• rent
• notch
• cut
• inlet
• punch
• puncture
• break
• chink
• pinhole
• keyhole
• cranny
• buttonhole
• wormhole
• peephole
• airhole
• pinprick
• knothole
• pothole
• armhole

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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

opening

2 of 3

adjective

as in initial

Related Words

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

Dissimilar Words

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

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of opening

Noun

There was at least a little mystery about which pitcher the Rangers would honor with the opening day start. —Evan Grant, Dallas Morning News, 15 Mar. 2026

Elsewhere in Saturday’s episode, Styles reflected on his time away from music in a funny opening monologue, then performed two songs from his fourth album, Kiss All the Time. —Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 15 Mar. 2026

Adjective

The Dallas Cowboys went after two levels of their defense on the opening day of free agency negotiations. —Sportsday Staff, Dallas Morning News, 9 Mar. 2026

Dancers perform on the opening day of the 2026 Winter Paralympic Games. —Alan Taylor, The Atlantic, 6 Mar. 2026

Verb

The Cuban government responded by opening parts of the economy and betting on solar energy. —Brittney Melton, NPR, 17 Mar. 2026

There's been some talk about opening more access to health savings accounts, but there really hasn't been any movement forward at this point. —Dana Taylor, USA Today, 17 Mar. 2026