1
a
: an act or instance of making or becoming open
b
: an act or instance of beginning : commencement
especially
: a formal and usually public event by which something new is put officially into operation
2
3
: something that constitutes a beginning: such as
a
: a usually planned series of moves made at the beginning of a game of chess or checkers compare endgame, middle game
b
: a first performance
Examples of opening in a Sentence
the opening of a cave
They squeezed through a narrow opening between the fence and an oak tree.
The enemy's troops poured through an opening in our defenses.
We went to the play's opening.
Recent Examples on the Web
But Walker hasn't returned to the field just yet and there's been some skepticism as to whether the veteran first baseman would be ready to take the field on opening day.
—
Mark Davis, Newsweek, 17 Mar. 2025
Zouk Group executive chairman Hui Lim and CEO Andrew Li flew in last week to celebrate the opening of Zouk LA, a 16,500-square-foot nightclub that could quite possibly be the beginning of a new era for nightlife in Los Angeles.
—Andy Wang, Forbes, 16 Mar. 2025
The film, which follows a young Japanese woman who finds herself in peril when her father’s traveling puppet show crosses paths with a criminal gang, premiered as the opening gala at the Glasgow Film Festival in February.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 16 Mar. 2025
The Hoosiers needed a win in the Big Ten tournament to bolster their resume but lost to Oregon in the opening contest.
—Kyle Feldscher, CNN, 16 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for opening
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Mark Davis, Newsweek, 17 Mar. 2025
Zouk Group executive chairman Hui Lim and CEO Andrew Li flew in last week to celebrate the opening of Zouk LA, a 16,500-square-foot nightclub that could quite possibly be the beginning of a new era for nightlife in Los Angeles.
—Andy Wang, Forbes, 16 Mar. 2025
The film, which follows a young Japanese woman who finds herself in peril when her father’s traveling puppet show crosses paths with a criminal gang, premiered as the opening gala at the Glasgow Film Festival in February.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 16 Mar. 2025
The Hoosiers needed a win in the Big Ten tournament to bolster their resume but lost to Oregon in the opening contest.
—Kyle Feldscher, CNN, 16 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for opening
Cite this Entry
“Opening.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/opening. Accessed 19 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
opening
noun
open·ing
ˈōp-(ə-)niŋ 
1
: an act or instance of making or becoming open
the opening of a new store
welcome to our grand opening
2
3
: beginning sense 2
the opening of fishing season
4
a
: occasion entry 1 sense 1, chance
saw an opening to run with the ball
b
: a job opportunity
openings for welders and machinists
Medical Definition
opening
noun
open·ing
ˈōp-(ə-)niŋ
1
: an act or instance of making or becoming open
2
: something (as an anatomical aperture) that is open or opens
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