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Synonyms

opener

American  
[oh-puh-ner] / ˈoʊ pə nər /

noun

  1. a person or thing that opens.

  2. a device for opening opening sealed containers.

    can opener.

  3. the first of several theatrical numbers, variety acts, sports events, etc..

    a humorous monologue as an opener.

  4. Poker. openers, cards in a hand, as a pair of jacks or better, that according to a given standard are worth enough to enable the holder to make the first bet of a deal.

idioms

  1. for openers, as an initially stated reason or argument; at the outset; to begin with.

    Well, for openers, I don't have the money.
opener British  
/ ˈəʊpənə /

noun

  1. an instrument used to open sealed containers such as tins or bottles

    a bottle opener

  2. a person who opens, esp the player who makes the first bid or play

  3. the first or opening section or episode in a series

  4. the first song, act, etc, in a variety show

  5. (plural) a start; beginning (esp in the phrase for openers )

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • self-opener noun

Etymology

Origin of opener

First recorded in 1540–50; open + -er 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

On that occasion, the league season was only one game old and Tottenham - then managed by Mauricio Pochettino - had lost their opener against Manchester United, but finished the campaign in third place.

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

Baseball let Netflix hijack its season opener with goofy wrestlers and dancers.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

Orange Lutheran plays Fountain Valley in a 9 a.m. opener at JSerra.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 6, 2026

January arrival Tomas Cvancara spurned multiple chances after Yang Hyun-jun's opener and Dundee took advantage as Simon Murray equalised with a second-half penalty.

From BBC • Apr. 5, 2026

It was clear that he was getting better and better with each succeeding game, his fumbling, bumbling performance in the season opener a laughable memory.

From "Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, And A Dream" by H.G. Bissinger

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.