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
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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
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as in initial
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Dissimilar Words
1
as in unlocking
to change from a closed to an open position
please open the door to let the cat out
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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
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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
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4
as in freeing
to rid the surface of (as an area) from things in the way
snowplows opened the runway without much trouble
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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
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Cite this Entry
“Opening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/opening. Accessed 15 Oct. 2026.
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