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
These are then linked to amplitude of movements such as opening and closing lips, moving eyebrows, or angling the head.
—
Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 2 Jan. 2025
On the Ross Stores website, there are job openings listed for a distribution center warehouse supervisor at both the Shafter and Perris DCs.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 2 Jan. 2025
The opening page, featuring a photograph of the six pillars of the Temple of Jupiter viewed from the triad of arched windows fronting the Palmyra’s balcony, was printed on a sheet of pink paper.
—Youmna Melhem Chamieh, Harper's Magazine, 2 Jan. 2025
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 left its biggest challenger Mufasa: The Lion King in the dust in its opening weekend at the box office Dec. 20-22, earning $62 million from 3,761 North American theaters.
—Tim Lammers, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for opening 
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Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 2 Jan. 2025
On the Ross Stores website, there are job openings listed for a distribution center warehouse supervisor at both the Shafter and Perris DCs.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 2 Jan. 2025
The opening page, featuring a photograph of the six pillars of the Temple of Jupiter viewed from the triad of arched windows fronting the Palmyra’s balcony, was printed on a sheet of pink paper.
—Youmna Melhem Chamieh, Harper's Magazine, 2 Jan. 2025
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 left its biggest challenger Mufasa: The Lion King in the dust in its opening weekend at the box office Dec. 20-22, earning $62 million from 3,761 North American theaters.
—Tim Lammers, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for opening
Dictionary Entries Near opening
Cite this Entry
“Opening.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/opening. Accessed 16 Jan. 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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