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
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of opening
Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 26 July 2025
No specific opening date has been announced for the new Louisville location.
—Amanda Hancock, The Courier-Journal, 26 July 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
Verb
Chinese Premier Li Qiang spoke at the opening of the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai on Saturday, July 26, 2025.
—Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 26 July 2025
No specific opening date has been announced for the new Louisville location.
—Amanda Hancock, The Courier-Journal, 26 July 2025
Adjective
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
-
For those who saw Varsity’s dominance as a troubling concentration of power—if not an outright antitrust issue—the collegiate space offered a rare opportunity: a chance to build something outside the reach of a deeply entrenched corporate force.—
Daniel Libit,
Sportico.com,
14 July 2025
-
The 30th anniversary of Java, which the Java community is celebrating this year, offers a perfect opportunity to reflect on the remarkable changes the ecosystem has undergone.—
Alexander Belokrylov,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
Noun
-
Up close, with its apertures open, the T.50 looks both fabulously exotic and a masterpiece of packaging, somehow squeezing three people, 10.2 cubic feet of luggage space, and a V-12 engine into a footprint similar to a Porsche Boxster.—
Tim Pitt,
Robb Report,
9 July 2025
-
That’ll have a much wider aperture than a high-magnification eyepiece.—
Mike Lynch,
Twin Cities,
6 July 2025
Noun
-
The budget office has traditionally leaned on slow-walking filling vacancies as one of its few tools to free up money, and the city ended 2024 with a $161 million deficit and expects a more than $1 billion gap next year.—
Alice Yin,
Chicago Tribune,
22 July 2025
-
But, as in James' case, such plans can have gaps in what care is covered, and more comprehensive private plans may be too expensive.—
Katheryn Houghton,
NPR,
22 July 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
-
In at least one way, Bonhoeffer was right — another part of his life was just beginning.—
John Blake,
CNN Money,
13 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
That makes the the initial 0.5% of income donated to charity not deductible.—
Bruce Brumberg,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
-
Last-minute amendments watered down initial requirements to produce annual impact assessments and mitigate algorithmic discrimination in an attempt to make the bill more palatable to the governor.—
Angela Eichhorst,
Hartford Courant,
15 July 2025
Noun
-
Indeed, France’s indiscipline was such that Germany had the best chance to win in normal time from the penalty spot.—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
20 July 2025
-
Sacramento has a chance to become the first team to win three Las Vegas Summer League championships.—
Jason Anderson,
Sacbee.com,
20 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Opening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/opening. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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