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.

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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

• self-opener noun

Etymology

Origin of opener

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

Example Sentences

Australia had been looking for an opener for almost two years, unaware one was hiding in plain sight.

From BBC

"Trinidad has become a powerful live song every show," DiGesu notes of their last album's wild opener.

From BBC

Australia have two left-handed openers in Head and Weatherald and Stokes has the best average against southpaws of all of the England quicks still standing.

From BBC

Australia opener Travis Head hit back at a majestic 160 from England's Joe Root on the second day of the fifth Ashes Test in Sydney.

From BBC

Fulham's opener had been awarded after VAR rejected the initial offside decision against Wilson.

From Barron's

Related Words

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