opener

American  

[oh-puh-ner] / ˈoʊ pə nər /

noun

1. a person or thing that opens.

2. a device for 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.

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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 )

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• self-opener
  noun

Etymology

Origin of opener

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

Example Sentences

It’s the first day of SpaceX trading, and Wall Street has high hopes it’ll provide a lot more excitement than that dud of a World Cup opener.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 12, 2026

Gordon, however, did his chances no harm with a fine performance against Costa Rica, tormenting defender Shawn Johnson with electric changes of pace, making Declan Rice's opener and scoring England's second from the spot.

From BBC • Jun. 11, 2026

United States star Christian Pulisic said the World Cup co-hosts are "ready to battle" on soccer's biggest stage as they prepare for a potentially bruising opener against Paraguay on Friday.

From Barron's • Jun. 11, 2026

Another group plans to protest on the day of the World Cup opener: the owners of Azteca Stadium box seats.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2026

With the season opener a week away, the pressure now intensified on everyone else, on Brian Chavez with his metamorphic ruthlessness and Ivory Christian with his love-hate ambivalence and Jerrod McDougal with his religious zeal.

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

Related Words

• birth
• creation
• dawn
• inauguration
• inception
• introduction
• onset
• opening
• outset
• starting point
• top