opening gambit

noun

: a first move
Their opening gambit in the negotiations was to demand a wage hike.

Examples of opening gambit in a Sentence

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That was the opening gambit from Textile Exchange conference host Samata Pattinson last week, kick-starting three days of programming that said a lot about the state of sustainable fashion, and the frustrations simmering below its surface. — Bella Webb, Vogue, 20 Oct. 2026 Bores regards it as at least a good opening gambit. — Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 7 May 2026 The variance with accustomed Goodspeed values is apparent from the very first moments, though the opening gambit fails due to an appalling lack of attentiveness from the audience. — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 3 May 2026 Diddy attorney Alexandra Shapiro’s opening gambit invoked lofty ideals about justice. — Victoria Bekiempis, Vulture, 9 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for opening gambit

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Cite this Entry

“Opening gambit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/opening%20gambit. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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