opener

[ oh-puh-ner ]

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. 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.

opener

/ 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 )

Other Words From

• self-open·er noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of opener¹

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

Idioms and Phrases

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.

Example Sentences

It might have unfolded sooner, too, except Magpayo missed the season opener the previous week to be with his wife for the birth of the couple’s first child.

From Washington Post

At 58, Few has won 614 games — winning his 600th in a rout of Kansas in the season opener.

From Washington Post

As of Wednesday night, the Capitals are still scheduled to practice Thursday and play their home opener Friday.

From Washington Post

The Rockets, who saw their season opener postponed after several players were sidelined by positive or inconclusive coronavirus tests and contact tracing, weathered that early turbulence.

From Washington Post

Opening night rosters must be set by Tuesday, so more cuts will follow before the team leaves Wednesday afternoon for its season opener Thursday night in Buffalo.

From Washington Post

This attack, coming just days after the PlayStation DDoS, was certainly an eye-opener.

From The Daily Beast

At the Gramercy Theater, a woman dressed as Maude Lebowski looks fierce as Cover Me Badd, the musical opener, takes the stage.

From The Daily Beast

This prompts Sarah Lynn to stab herself with a Confederate bayonet letter-opener, causing a geyser of blood.

From The Daily Beast

Read this post about the 2014 home-opener tifo, and get inspired.

From The Daily Beast

Stuff like a $345 key-shaped brass bottle opener by Viennese modernist designer Carl Aubock.

From The Daily Beast

Black Hood stepped to Carlson's desk, picked up an envelope and a letter opener, and returned to the body.

From Project Gutenberg

The boss was sitting back in his chair and making little rings on the desk blotter with the point of his letter-opener.

From Project Gutenberg

They had never seen me really dressed up before; Barney said it was an eye-opener.

From Project Gutenberg

Beyond the point of confluence the country becomes opener, freer, and healthier, and we arrive at the Portuguese town of Tt.

From Project Gutenberg

But the chauffeur is an old and trusted servant, and, moreover, the box opener says that the ladies occupied their box.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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