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

• self-opener noun

Etymology

Origin of opener

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

Example Sentences

Theirry Henry scored twice after Ruud van Nistelrooy's opener, but Ryan Giggs, top to tail in blue, stooped to make it 2-2 in a classic under the lights.

From BBC • Apr. 13, 2026

Baseball let Netflix hijack its season opener with goofy wrestlers and dancers.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

At home, some fans are debating how Korean the new album Arirang really is - despite being named after a beloved folk song, which is sampled in the hip-hop laden opener, Body to Body.

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026

Orange Lutheran plays Fountain Valley in a 9 a.m. opener at JSerra.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 6, 2026

“Tremble, worms!” may work well as an opener for Ming the Merciless.

From "Words Like Loaded Pistols" by Sam Leith

Related Words

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