opener
gb/ˈoʊpənɚ/ us/ˈoʊpənɚ/
A2
English
~ 10000
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
tool or device for opening things
A tool or machine that you use to open a bottle, a can, a letter, a door, or something similar.
Usage pattern:
an opener for [container/door]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "opener" with the verb "open" and say *"I opener the bottle"* instead of "I open the bottle" or "I use a bottle opener." Remember: "opener" is a noun (a thing), not a verb.
Synonyms
device (More general and not limited to opening things; refers to any kind of tool or piece of equipment.)
Antonyms
closer (A mechanical device that closes something, such as a door closer, doing the opposite action of an opener.)
Collocations
bottle opener
|can opener
|electric can opener
|letter opener
|garage door opener
|wine opener
Themes
daily life
|home
|food
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- I can’t open this bottle; where’s the bottle opener?
- We bought an electric can opener to make cooking easier.
- He keeps a small letter opener on his desk for the morning mail.
- The garage door opener stopped working during the storm.
- This pocket tool works as both a corkscrew and a bottle opener.
Learner examples
- She used a bottle opener to open the beer.
- My parents gave me an electric can opener for my new kitchen.
- There is a letter opener next to the phone.
- I pressed the garage door opener in my car.
- I always carry a small opener on my key ring.
Noun
B1
event
2
first game, show, or event
The first game, show, or event in a season, tour, or group of events.
Usage pattern:
the [season/home/tour] opener
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think "opener" here means a person who opens something, but in this sense it is the whole game, show, or event. For example, "season opener" is the first match, not a person.
Synonyms
opening game (Used mainly for sports; more specific than "opener," which can include shows or other events.)
Antonyms
finale (Refers to the last event or performance in a series, the opposite of the opener.)
Collocations
season opener
|home opener
|tour opener
|series opener
|opening-night opener
Themes
sports
|entertainment
|time
|arts_entertainment
Examples
- Tickets for the season opener sold out in an hour.
- The band’s tour opener will be in Madrid next month.
- They lost their home opener but improved as the season went on.
- The film festival’s opener was a documentary about climate change.
- Fans lined up all morning for the series opener against their rivals.
Learner examples
- Our team won the season opener last night.
- The band’s opener is in a small club in London.
- We are excited for the home opener on Saturday.
- The festival opener starts at six o’clock.
- He scored twice in the series opener.
Noun
B2
entity
3
opening line or section
The first line, paragraph, joke, song, or part that starts a speech, story, or show.
Usage pattern:
a strong/weak opener to [something]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with "opening" as an adjective or noun. "Opener" here is a countable noun (e.g. "a strong opener"), while "opening" is more general (e.g. "the opening of the book").
Synonyms
introduction (More formal and general; "opener" often sounds more casual and can refer to very short elements like a single line or joke.)
Antonyms
conclusion (The final section of a text or performance, contrasting with the first part called the opener.)
Collocations
strong opener
|weak opener
|catchy opener
|song opener
|opener line
Themes
communication
|entertainment
|writing
|arts_entertainment
Examples
- Her essay has a strong opener that grabs your attention immediately.
- The comedian’s opener was a risky joke about politics.
- That song is the perfect opener for the album.
- His email opener sounded too aggressive for a first message.
- The speech had a boring opener, but the middle was excellent.
Learner examples
- The first sentence is a good opener for your story.
- The comedian started with a funny opener.
- This song is the opener on their new album.
- You need a better opener for your presentation.
- Her email opener was friendly and simple.
Noun
technical
C1
entity
4
starting player in some sports
In some sports, the player who starts the game or the first part of the game.
Usage pattern:
an opener in [sport/game]
Common mistake:
Learners may think "opener" always means a tool, even in sports headlines. In sports articles, "opener" can be a player, not a device.
Synonyms
starter (General sports word for a player who begins the game; "opener" is used in specific sports like cricket or in special baseball strategies.)
Antonyms
reliever (In baseball, a pitcher who comes into the game after the first pitcher, often replacing the opener.)
Collocations
opening batsman/opener
|new-ball opener
|as an opener
|pace opener
Themes
sports
|games
Examples
- He was promoted to opener after scoring heavily in the domestic league.
- The team chose a different opener for the final match.
- Their openers failed to build a strong partnership in the first innings.
- She has been the regular opener for the national side for five years.
- The coach used a short-inning opener instead of a traditional starting pitcher.
Learner examples
- He plays as an opener for his cricket team.
- The coach picked a new opener for the big game.
- Their openers did not score many runs today.
- She became the first-choice opener last year.
- The opener was tired after a long time on the field.
Noun
B2
action
5
first remark to start talking
A sentence or question you say first to start talking with someone, especially in a social or romantic situation.
Usage pattern:
a good/bad opener with [someone]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse this with "opening" and say *"a good opening"* where native speakers might say "a good opener" for a specific line. Both are possible, but "opener" usually refers to one exact remark, especially in dating or chatting contexts.
Synonyms
icebreaker (Often used for an activity or remark that makes people feel more relaxed; "opener" is specifically the first line or comment.)
Antonyms
farewell line (A phrase used to end a conversation, opposite in function to an opener.)
Collocations
good opener
|bad opener
|conversation opener
|chat-up opener
|ice-breaking opener
Themes
communication
|social
|relationships
Examples
- As a dating app opener, that message sounds a bit too formal.
- He practiced a few openers before walking over to talk to her.
- Asking about someone’s job is a safe opener at a networking event.
- A simple "Hi, how do you know the host?" is a great party opener.
- Her joke about the weather was an effective opener with the group.
Learner examples
- He used a funny opener to start the chat.
- You need a simple opener when you meet new people.
- That question is not a good opener on a first date.
- A smile and "Hi" can be a nice opener.
- He wrote a short opener before his main message.
Grammar
Dictionary form
opener
IPA
GB/ˈoʊpənɚ/
US/ˈoʊpənɚ/
Syllables & stress
open - er (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (open)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: opener
- Plural: openers
Word family
Expressions
bottle opener
1/bˈɑtəl ˈoʊpənɚ/
fixed phrase
tool for opening bottles
A small tool that you use to open bottles, usually to take off metal caps or corks.
Examples
- We forgot to bring a bottle opener to the picnic.
- This bottle opener also has a small knife built into it.
- The waiter quickly found a bottle opener and opened the wine.
can opener
1/kən ˈoʊpənɚ/
fixed phrase
tool for opening cans
A tool or kitchen machine that cuts open metal food cans.
Examples
- We don’t have a can opener, so we can’t make the soup.
- She bought an electric can opener because it’s easier on her hands.
- The can opener is in the top drawer next to the stove.
conversation opener
1/kˌɑnvɚsˈeɪʃən ˈoʊpənɚ/
fixed phrase
remark that starts a conversation
A sentence or question that you say first to begin talking with someone.
Examples
- As a conversation opener, "What do you do?" is simple but effective.
- He always has a good conversation opener at parties.
- Using someone’s name can be a powerful conversation opener.
eye-opener
1/ˈaɪ ˈoʊpənɚ/
idiom
surprising, revealing experience
Something that surprises you and makes you see or understand a situation in a new, clear way.
Examples
- Working in a hospital was a real eye-opener for him.
- The report on climate change was an eye-opener for many voters.
- Living abroad can be an eye-opener about your own culture.
garage door opener
1/ɡɚˈɑʒ dˈɔɹ ˈoʊpənɚ/
fixed phrase
automatic garage door device
A machine or a small remote control that opens and closes a garage door automatically.
Examples
- The battery in my garage door opener died this morning.
- We installed a new garage door opener with a smartphone app.
- She pressed the garage door opener and drove inside.
home opener
1/hˈoʊm ˈoʊpənɚ/
fixed phrase
first home game of season
The first game in a season that a team plays in its own stadium or city.
Examples
- The stadium was completely full for the home opener.
- They will give away free T-shirts at the home opener.
- The team lost the home opener but bounced back later.
letter opener
1/lˈɛtɚ ˈoʊpənɚ/
fixed phrase
tool for opening envelopes
A thin tool, often like a small knife, that you use to open envelopes neatly.
Examples
- He used a silver letter opener to slice open the envelope.
- There’s a letter opener on the receptionist’s desk.
- My grandfather gave me an old letter opener with my initials on it.
season opener
1/sˈizən ˈoʊpənɚ/
fixed phrase
first game of the season
The first game or match that a team plays in a new sports season.
Examples
- They face last year’s champions in the season opener.
- Fans are hopeful after a strong performance in the season opener.
- The coach rested two key players for the season opener.
series opener
1/sˈɪɹiz ˈoʊpənɚ/
fixed phrase
first game of a series
The first game in a group of games played between the same teams over a few days.
Examples
- They dropped the series opener but won the next two games.
- The coach announced the starting pitcher for the series opener.
- Winning the series opener gave them a big advantage.