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 These openings add visual drama while clearly serving an aerodynamic purpose. — Matthew MacConnell, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026 Forecasters had expected employers to post just 7 million openings in May. — Paul Wiseman, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026 Today, that's jumped to four openings for every one closing, according to the Downtown Sacramento Partnership. — Steve Large, CBS News, 1 July 2026 The openings come as the retailer plans dozens more locations in 2026, having already added stores in California, Florida, and Texas this year. — Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 24 June 2026 Other openings this year include a 169,570-square-foot store in Baytown, Texas, part of the Greater Houston metropolitan area. — Saleen Martin, USA Today, 2 July 2026 Last year, Publix opened three stores and its 26th store in the Charlotte market at the Arboretum, following store openings in east Charlotte and Carmel Commons Boulevard. — Catherine Muccigrosso july 1, Charlotte Observer, 1 July 2026 June was a frenetic month for the metro Atlanta restaurant scene, driven in part by a flurry of downtown openings timed to the beginning of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. — Olivia Wakim, AJC.com, 1 July 2026 Graduates are entering a labor market defined by fewer entry-level openings, the growing role of artificial intelligence and employers increasingly seeking candidates with experience that extends beyond a college degree. — Sofia Baltodano june 24, Miami Herald, 24 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for openings
  1. opportunities
  2. apertures
  3. gaps
  4. chances
  5. holes
  6. crevices
Noun
  • There are fewer opportunities for younger workers to find mentors and soak up knowledge.
    — Rachel Barber, USA Today, 2 July 2026
  • My hope is that each and every American and everyone who resides in our great country will all get the same level of freedom and opportunities, and everyone can have a chance at the American dream.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
Definition of opportunities
Noun
  • If applicable, low apertures and wide-angle lenses can also help grab good shots of the natural phenomenon.
    — Antonio Pequeño IV, Forbes.com, 27 June 2026
  • The only structural change has been the addition of three pyramidlike apertures to light the studio/living room.
    — Constance W. Glenn, Architectural Digest, 12 June 2026
Definition of apertures
Noun
  • Casemiro was able to coast through performances against poor Haiti and Scotland sides in two of Brazil’s group stage games, but Morocco provided much sterner opposition that exposed some worrying gaps in midfield.
    — Mark Carey, New York Times, 6 July 2026
  • The problem, inherent to the design, has always been the physical gaps between those individual boxes.
    — Dave Brooks, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
Definition of gaps
Noun
  • Skies will become partly sunny, and rain chances will drop considerably.
    — Baltimore Sun staff, Baltimore Sun, 6 July 2026
  • The second half started much like the first half, as both teams created occasional chances, with most of the action coming from the Spanish.
    — Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
Definition of chances
Noun
  • The Chileans drilled holes allowing workers to insert a camera and pinpoint his location.
    — Mery Mogollón, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026
  • Plus, Hannah Vanbiber uncovers why World Cup players are cutting holes in their socks.
    — The Athletic, New York Times, 4 July 2026
Definition of holes
Noun
  • From clever watermelon slicers to brushes designed to slide into tight crevices, shop more surprisingly useful gadgets below.
    — Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 July 2026
  • In it, pieces of raw fish are put in the cracks, crevices, and folds of the skin of Zach Holmes, another of the new cast members, who is a large man.
    — Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Rolling Stone, 28 June 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 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on openings

Nglish: Translation of openings for Spanish Speakers

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