openings

noun

plural of opening
1
as in opportunities
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in apertures
a place in a surface allowing passage into or through a thing an opening in the roof is letting rain drip inside

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in gaps
an open space in a barrier (as a wall or hedge) the rabbit found a little opening in the bushes and darted through

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of openings The researchers addressed this by filling only the hollow struts with foam, leaving the larger openings available for water to flow through. — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2026 Sometimes, the big openings don’t come from teams struggling, but rather from when a coach wins big and then gets tempted to jump to the NFL or another job. — Bruce Feldman, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026 The openings come after rival coffee chain 7 Brew outbid Dutch Bros for 73 Salad and Go locations that closed suddenly in early August, reported the Arizona Republic, part of the USA TODAY Network. — Saleen Martin, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026 Frieze Seoul today kicked off its fifth iteration in partnership with homegrown flagship fair Kiaf Seoul at the COEX convention center in Gangnam district, along with the openings of biennials in Gwangju and Busan. — Vivienne Chow, ARTnews.com, 2 Sep. 2026 Employers posted slightly more job openings in July but as the American labor market remained sturdy in the face of higher costs that are squeezing household budgets. — ABC News, 1 Sep. 2026 Kamayan, the acclaimed Filipino restaurant on Buford Highway, moved to a new space next door to its original location but never experienced an interruption of service, so it is not included in the list of new openings below. — Henri Hollis, AJC.com, 1 Sep. 2026 Over the summer, Celine opened a boutique in Scottsdale, and among openings expected in the second half is a boutique in Bal Harbour in Miami Beach and another in Aventura, Fla. — Miles Socha, Footwear News, 1 Sep. 2026 Other studios delayed openings or sent films straight to streaming services that would normally have gone first to theaters. — Bob Mondello, NPR, 26 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for openings
  1. opportunities
  2. apertures
  3. gaps
  4. chances
  5. holes
  6. crevices
Noun
  • The $130 billion Indian wedding market is one of luxury’s biggest opportunities.
    — Sujata Assomull, Vogue, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The rise of agents brings new risks and, in turn, new opportunities for Palo Alto.
    — Zev Fima, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of opportunities
Noun
  • Larger apertures gather more light, while monochrome cameras with filters help tease out subtle banding.
    — Damian Peach, Space.com, 13 Aug. 2026
  • If applicable, photos can be taken with low apertures, wide-angle lenses and tripods.
    — Antonio Pequeño IV, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
Definition of apertures
Noun
  • Its 100mm pixel macro lens captures 28 images per second in order to guide the jet to the gaps in your teeth.
    — Jenny Bailly, Allure, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Any business can run into cash-flow gaps — slow seasons, delayed invoice payments or unexpected costs can throw off even the most perfectly balanced budget.
    — Carson Brunson, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of gaps
Noun
  • The Astros, meanwhile, made the most of some of their chances.
    — LaMond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026
  • To improve chances of a timely reply, patients should start messages by greeting their doctor by name, ideally including both first and last names.
    — Paul Hsieh, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of chances
Noun
  • McIlroy surged into the top-10 on Saturday with a 7-under 63, powered by nine birdies, including three in his final four holes.
    — Gabby Herzig, New York Times, 30 Aug. 2026
  • The golf course would be transformed from its original layout of three courses with 36 holes to a single 18-hole championship course, per the outlet.
    — Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of holes
Noun
  • High-pressure washing can force water into seals and crevices, damage weatherstripping, and strip paint—especially on doors that are already showing signs of chipping or peeling.
    — Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Unapproved use of old cardboard pieces placed in underside crevices below the center prep table.
    — Vince Basada, Sacbee.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of crevices

Browse Nearby Words

opening
openings
opening (up)
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Openings.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/openings. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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