opening

American  

[oh-puh-ning] / ˈoʊ pə nɪŋ /

noun

1. an act or instance of making or becoming open.

   The opening of the tomb gathered much publicity.

   Antonyms:

   closing

2. the act of a person or thing that opens.

   Her opening of the ceremony was brilliantly handled.

3. an unobstructed or unoccupied space or place.

   That narrow opening between buildings is a good place to shelter from the rain.

4. a void in solid matter; a gap, hole, or aperture.

   There was a little opening in the door they used as a peephole.

   Synonyms:

   rent, fissure, cleft, chasm, rift, breach, slit, orifice

5. a tract of land thinly wooded as compared with adjoining forest tracts.

6. the act of beginning; start; commencement.

   Tomorrow is the opening of a new session of Congress.

7. the first part or initial stage of anything.

   During the opening, the store had extra late hours.

8. an employment vacancy; an unfilled position or job.

   There are no openings for waitstaff at the moment.

9. an opportunity; chance.

10. a formal or official beginning, as of a sport season or a season's sale of goods.

    Today marks the opening of the deer-hunting season.

    Swimsuits sold well at the summer opening.

11. the first performance of a theatrical production.

12. the first public showing or use of something.

    It's rare for there to be so many journalists at the opening of an art exhibition.

13. a celebration of the first public showing or performance or of the first use or start of something.

    The new supermarket is going to give away prizes at its opening.

14. Law. the statement of the case made by counsel to the court or jury preliminary to adducing evidence.

15. a mode of beginning a game.

    a manual of chess openings.

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adjective

1. first, inaugural, commencing, or beginning.

   The opening chapter of the book caught my attention immediately.

opening British  

/ ˈəʊpənɪŋ /

noun

1. the act of making or becoming open

2. a vacant or unobstructed space, esp one that will serve as a passageway; gap

3. a tract in a forest in which trees are scattered or absent

4. the first part or stage of something

5. 1. the first performance of something, esp a theatrical production

   2. ( as modifier )

      the opening night

6. a specific or formal sequence of moves at the start of any of certain games, esp chess or draughts

7. an opportunity or chance, esp for employment or promotion in a business concern

8. law the preliminary statement made by counsel to the court or jury before adducing evidence in support of his case

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Other Word Forms

• preopening adjective
• self-opening adjective
• unopening adjective

Etymology

Origin of opening

First recorded in 1125–75; Middle English; open ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

Because photons move faster and do not have mass like electrons, devices based on light could become both quicker and smaller, opening the door to more powerful and compact technologies.

From Science Daily • Apr. 5, 2026

But the famous SI name still resonates with generations of consumers and Authentic has sought ways to capitalize on it, from selling replica covers to opening branded resort hotels in Chicago and Nashville.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 5, 2026

The 35-year-old landed her share of punches in the opening two minutes and did not look out of her depth in her first professional fight outside of Puerto Rico.

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026

In the opening days of the war, three U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 4, 2026

Picking out a small opening in the underbrush, Papa raked the dead leaves and sticks to one side with the shovel and started digging.

From "Summer of the Monkeys" by Wilson Rawls

Related Words

• commencement
• inauguration
• kickoff
• launch
• launching
• opener
• start