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
as in initial
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of opening
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
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
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
-
Eva is grateful for her supportive parents who help make things happen and give her so many opportunities to share her voice.—
Karen Billing,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Apr. 2025
-
As part of the transaction, Macquarie and Nomura have also agreed to collaborate on product and distribution opportunities.—
Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
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
-
The median home price is a benchmark for how much a U.S. home costs, which is largely driven by the gap between housing supply and homebuyer demand.—
Sylvan Lane,
The Hill,
17 Apr. 2025
-
Over time, the gap between Clifford Davis and the rest of Fort Worth ISD has widened today, where less than 1 in every 10 students is reading and doing math on grade level.—
Lina Ruiz,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
17 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
-
This experiment also found low genetic diversity and high inbreeding among corpse flowers in institutions, confirming the initial findings.—
Sarah Kuta,
Smithsonian Magazine,
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
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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 Fire’s best chance came in the 88th minute when Jonathan Bamba’s point-blank shot was stopped by Ustari.—
Michelle Kaufman,
Miami Herald,
14 Apr. 2025
-
The 46 economists surveyed by Wolters Kluwer Blue Chip Economic Indicators estimate a 47% chance of recession, up from 25% in February.—
Paul Davidson,
USA Today,
14 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Opening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/opening. Accessed 27 Apr. 2025.
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