opener

[oh-puh-ner]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR opener ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a person or thing that opens.

a device for opening sealed containers: can opener.

the first of several theatrical numbers, variety acts, sports events, etc.: a humorous monologue as an opener.

openers, Poker. 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

for openers, as an initially stated reason or argument; at the outset; to begin with: Well, for openers, I don't have the money.

Origin of opener

First recorded in 1540–50; open + -er¹

Related formsself-o·pen·er, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for for openers

opener

noun

an instrument used to open sealed containers such as tins or bottlesa bottle opener

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

the first or opening section or episode in a series

US the first song, act, etc, in a variety show

(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

Word Origin and History for for openers

opener

"one who opens," Old English openere, agent noun from open (v.).

Idioms and Phrases with for openers

for openers

Also, for starters. To begin with. For example, Out of 50 possible jurors they eliminated 30, for openers, or She believed him, which indicated, for starters, that she was very gullible. The word starters is also used for the appetizer or first course of a meal, as in For starters we had shrimp cocktail. [Mid-1900s]