Opening — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun adjective verb /ˈōp-niŋ/ open·ing

Meaning & Definition of Opening

Opening (noun)

  1. an act or instance of making or becoming open
  2. an act or instance of beginning, commencement; especially, a formal and usually public event by which something new is put officially into operation
  3. something that is open

Opening (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a favorable combination of circumstances, time, and place

    "the talk show host's usual modus operandi is to talk over his guests, thereby denying them an opening to articulate their positions"

    similar: break, chance, occasion, opportunity, room, shot
    related: play, way, juncture, pass

  2. a place in a surface allowing passage into or through a thing

    "an opening in the roof is letting rain drip inside"

    similar: aperture, hole, orifice, perforation
    related: loophole, breach, break, chink, cleft, crack, cranny, crevice, cut, fissure, gash, notch, rent, rift, rupture, slash, slit, split, tear, slot, space, exit, mouth, outlet, pore, vent, entrance, inlet, intake, pinhole, pinprick, punch, puncture, airhole, armhole, buttonhole, keyhole, knothole, peephole, pothole, wormhole
    near: fill, filler, filling, patch, plug, seal, stopper, barrier, blockage, obstacle, obstruction

  3. an open space in a barrier (as a wall or hedge)

    "the rabbit found a little opening in the bushes and darted through"

    similar: breach, break, discontinuity, gap, gulf, hiatus, hole, interstice, interval, rent, rift, separation, void
    related: chink, cleft, crack, cranny, crevice, fissure, notch, slit, slot, split, interspace, pore, abyss, aperture, cavity, chasm, gape, orifice, fracture, rupture, severance, sundering

Opening (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in first, starting

    similar: beginning, earliest, first, foremost, headmost, inaugural, initial, leadoff, maiden, original, pioneer, primary, starting, eminent, premier, superior
    opposite: bottommost, closing, concluding, final, hindmost, lag, last, latest, latter, rearmost, terminal, terminating, ultimate, consequent, ensuing, eventual, following, succeeding, conclusive, crowning, decisive, definitive

Opening (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to change from a closed to an open position

    "please open the door to let the cat out"

    similar: unclosing
    related: unbarring, unbolting, unclasping, unfastening, unlatching, unlocking, unbuttoning, unclenching, unfolding, unfurling, unzipping, disengaging, releasing, slipping
    opposite: closing, shutting
    near: barring, bolting, clasping, fastening, latching, locking, buttoning (up), zipping (up)

  2. to make passage through (something) possible by removing obstructions

    "we need to open this drain that's clogged with hair"

    similar: clearing, freeing, unclogging, unplugging, unstopping
    related: easing, facilitating, loosening (up), smoothing
    opposite: blocking, clogging (up), closing, damming (up), plugging (up), stopping
    near: constricting, encumbering, hampering, hindering, impeding, interfering (with), obstructing, trammeling, barricading, blockading

  3. to arrange the parts of (something) over a wider area

    "when we got too close, the cardinal opened its wings and flew to a higher branch"

    similar: expanding, extending, fanning (out), flaring (out), outspreading, outstretching, spreading (out), stretching (out), unfolding, unfurling
    related: overspreading
    opposite: closing, contracting, folding
    near: compacting, compressing, condensing, reducing

  4. to rid the surface of (as an area) from things in the way

    "snowplows opened the runway without much trouble"

    similar: clearing, freeing, unblocking
    related: easing, facilitating, loosening (up), smoothing, unchoking, unclogging, unplugging, unstopping, uncluttering, stripping
    opposite: blocking
    near: clogging, closing, damming, obstructing, plugging, stopping, cluttering (up)

  5. to take the first step in (a process or course of action)

    "we will open the proceedings tomorrow with a short ceremony"

    similar: beginning, commencing, embarking (on or upon), entering (into or upon), falling (to), getting off, kicking off, launching, leading off, starting, striking (into), getting going, getting to, setting about
    related: creating, generating, inaugurating, initiating, innovating, inventing, originating, adopting, embracing, taking on, taking up, establishing, fathering, founding, instituting, organizing, pioneering, setting up, spawning, getting around (to), getting down (to), getting round (to)
    opposite: concluding, ending, finishing, terminating
    near: ceasing, desisting, discontinuing, halting, knocking off, laying off, quitting, stopping, closing, completing, abandoning, forsaking, leaving, abolishing, demolishing, destroying, exterminating, extinguishing, phasing out

Related Entry: Open (verb)

Open is a different word from Opening. The synonyms below are for open, not for opening.

  1. to change from a closed to an open position

    "please open the door to let the cat out"

    similar: unclose
    related: unbar, unbolt, unclasp, unfasten, unlatch, unlock, unbutton, unclench, unfold, unfurl, unzip, disengage, release, slip
    opposite: close, shut
    near: bar, bolt, clasp, fasten, latch, lock, button (up), zip (up)

  2. to make passage through (something) possible by removing obstructions

    "we need to open this drain that's clogged with hair"

    similar: clear, free, unclog, unplug, unstop
    related: ease, facilitate, loosen (up), smooth
    opposite: block, clog (up), close, dam (up), plug (up), stop
    near: constrict, encumber, hamper, hinder, impede, interfere (with), obstruct, trammel, barricade, blockade

  3. to arrange the parts of (something) over a wider area

    "when we got too close, the cardinal opened its wings and flew to a higher branch"

    similar: expand, extend, fan (out), flare (out), outspread, outstretch, spread (out), stretch (out), unfold, unfurl
    related: overspread
    opposite: close, contract, fold
    near: compact, compress, condense, reduce

  4. to rid the surface of (as an area) from things in the way

    "snowplows opened the runway without much trouble"

    similar: clear, free, unblock
    related: ease, facilitate, loosen (up), smooth, unchoke, unclog, unplug, unstop, unclutter, strip
    opposite: block
    near: clog, close, dam, obstruct, plug, stop, clutter (up)

  5. to take the first step in (a process or course of action)

    "we will open the proceedings tomorrow with a short ceremony"

    similar: begin, commence, embark (on or upon), enter (into or upon), fall (to), get off, kick off, launch, lead off, start, strike (into), get going, get to, set about
    related: create, generate, inaugurate, initiate, innovate, invent, originate, adopt, embrace, take on, take up, establish, father, found, institute, organize, pioneer, set up, spawn, get around (to), get down (to), get round (to)
    opposite: conclude, end, finish, terminate
    near: cease, desist, discontinue, halt, knock off, lay off, quit, stop, close, complete, abandon, forsake, leave, abolish, demolish, destroy, exterminate, extinguish, phase out

Related Entry: Opening (up) (verb)

Opening (up) is a different word from Opening. The synonyms below are for opening (up), not for opening.

  1. as in clearing, freeing

    similar: clearing, freeing, unblocking, unclogging, unplugging, unstopping, excavating, hollowing (out), scooping (out), emptying, lightening
    opposite: blocking, choking, clogging, clotting, congesting, damming, gumming (up), jamming, obstructing, occluding, plugging (up), stopping (up), stuffing, bunging, corking, spiling, stoppering, stoppling, filling, gridlocking, packing

  2. as in wanting, taking

    similar: needing, taking, wanting, warranting, favoring, justifying, supporting, sustaining, validating, admitting (of), allowing (of), permitting (of)
    opposite: closing out, disallowing, enjoining, excluding, forbidding, negativing, precluding, ruling out

Related Entry: Eye-opening (adjective)

Eye-opening is a different word from Opening. The synonyms below are for eye-opening, not for opening.

  1. causing a strong emotional reaction because of unexpectedness

    "hunting for a first apartment in a big city is an eye-opening experience for young people"

    similar: amazing, astonishing, astounding, blindsiding, dumbfounding, flabbergasting, jarring, jaw-dropping, jolting, shocking, startling, stunning, stupefying, surprising
    related: unannounced, unanticipated, unexpected, unforeseen, awesome, awful, breathtaking, fabulous, heart-stopping, marvelous, miraculous, portentous, prodigious, staggering, stupendous, sublime, wonderful, wondrous, extraordinary, phenomenal, rare, sensational, spectacular, befuddling, bewildering, confounding, confusing, discomfiting, disconcerting, dismaying, flustering, muddling, nonplussing, perplexing, upsetting, incomprehensible, inconceivable, incredible, unbelievable, unimaginable, unlikely, unthinkable, singular, uncommon, unique, unusual, unwonted, conspicuous, notable, noticeable, outstanding, remarkable, impressive, striking
    opposite: unsurprising
    near: common, customary, mundane, normal, ordinary, typical, unexceptional, unremarkable, usual

  2. causing wonder or astonishment

    "that acclaimed magic act had a number of eye-opening moments"

    similar: amazing, astonishing, astounding, awesome, awful, fabulous, marvelous, miraculous, portentous, prodigious, staggering, stunning, stupendous, sublime, surprising, wonderful, wondrous
    related: incomprehensible, inconceivable, incredible, unbelievable, unimaginable, unthinkable, extraordinary, phenomenal, rare, sensational, spectacular, singular, uncommon, unique, unusual, unwonted, conspicuous, notable, noticeable, outstanding, remarkable, impressive, smashing, striking, mind-bending, mind-blowing, mind-boggling, animating, energizing, enlightening, enlivening, exciting, galvanizing, invigorating, stimulating, alluring, attracting, attractive, beguiling, bewitching, captivating, charming, enchanting, entertaining, enthralling, fascinating, interesting
    near: unimpressive, uninspiring, unremarkable, boring, dull, jading, monotonous, tedious, tiring, uninspired, uninteresting, wearisome, weary, wearying, common, customary, mundane, normal, ordinary, typical, unexceptional, usual, draining, enervating, exhausting, fatiguing, wearing, debilitating, enfeebling, demoralizing, discouraging, disheartening, dispiriting

Related Entry: Eye-opener (noun)

Eye-opener is a different word from Opening. The synonyms below are for eye-opener, not for opening.

  1. something that shows or teaches you something in a surprising way

    "Traveling abroad can be a real eye-opener to many people."

    "They say her biography is quite an eye-opener."

    similar: revelation, shocker, bombshell, jar, jaw-dropper, jolt, stunner, surprise, shock, thunderclap, amazement, marvel, wonder, fillip, kick, kicker, twist, wrinkle

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Opening

The most common words with a similar meaning to Opening:

break, chance, occasion, opportunity, room, shot, aperture, hole, orifice, perforation, breach, discontinuity, gap, gulf, hiatus, interstice, interval, rent, rift, separation, void, beginning, earliest, first, foremost, headmost, inaugural, initial, leadoff, maiden, original, pioneer, primary, starting, eminent, premier, superior, unclosing, clearing, freeing

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Opening

Words with the opposite meaning of Opening:

bottommost, closing, concluding, final, hindmost, lag, last, latest, latter, rearmost, terminal, terminating, ultimate, consequent, ensuing, eventual, following, succeeding, conclusive, crowning, decisive, definitive, shutting, blocking, clogging (up), damming (up), plugging (up), stopping, contracting, folding

Related Words for Opening

play, way, juncture, pass, loophole, chink, cleft, crack, cranny, crevice, cut, fissure, gash, notch, rupture, slash, slit, split, tear, slot, space, exit, mouth, outlet, pore, vent, entrance, inlet, intake, pinhole

Near Antonyms of Opening

fill, filler, filling, patch, plug, seal, stopper, barrier, blockage, obstacle, obstruction, barring, bolting, clasping, fastening, latching, locking, buttoning (up), zipping (up), constricting, encumbering, hampering, hindering, impeding, interfering (with), obstructing, trammeling, barricading, blockading, compacting

Origin & Etymology of Opening

First known use: 13th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Opening

Words & Phrases Containing Opening

opening gambit, opening hours, opening night, grand opening

Frequently Asked Questions about Opening

What does "Opening" mean?

"Opening" means an act or instance of making or becoming open. As an a noun, an adjective and a verb, it is defined as: an act or instance of making or becoming open. It has 9 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Opening"?

Other words for "Opening" include break, chance, occasion, opportunity, room, shot, aperture and hole. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Opening" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Opening"?

There are 157 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Opening". Common alternatives include break, chance, occasion, opportunity, room, shot, aperture, hole, orifice and perforation.

What is the opposite of "Opening"?

Antonyms of "Opening" include bottommost, closing, concluding, final, hindmost, lag, last and latest. Near antonyms include fill, filler, filling and patch.

How do you use "Opening" in a sentence?

Examples of "Opening" in a sentence: "the talk show host's usual modus operandi is to talk over his guests, thereby denying them an opening to articulate their positions"; "an opening in the roof is letting rain drip inside"; "the rabbit found a little opening in the bushes and darted through".

Is "Opening" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Opening" can be used as a noun, an adjective and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Opening" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B1-level word, "Opening" is typical of Cambridge B1 Preliminary (PET), IELTS band 4.0–5.0, TOEFL iBT 42–71, PTE Academic 43–58, TOEIC Listening & Reading 550+.

How do you pronounce "Opening"?

"Opening" is pronounced /ˈōp-niŋ/ and divided into syllables as open·ing.