opening

opening — noun

1. a hole or open space in a wall, fence, roof, or similar surface that lets people

1.名詞C2
釋義

a hole or open space in a wall, fence, roof, or similar surface that lets people, animals, light, or air pass through.

例句

A narrow opening in the fence led into Grandma Eva's garden.

opening in + barrier

Sunlight poured through a small opening above the barn door.

through + opening

同義詞
  • hole

    the everyday word; often smaller and more ordinary

  • gap

    stresses a space between two things rather than a hole inside one thing

  • aperture

    more technical or formal

反義詞
  • seal

    something fully closed so nothing can pass through

文法句型

opening in + surface/barrier

through + opening

用法筆記

Common after the prepositions 'in' and 'through'. Unlike 'door' or 'window', this sense does not require a built frame or moving part.

常見錯誤

❌There was a small opening on the wall.
✅There was a small opening in the wall.
💡use 'in' for a hole inside a surface.

2. an event held to mark the official start of a new shop, building, exhibition, br

2.名詞B2
釋義

an event held to mark the official start of a new shop, building, exhibition, bridge, or similar project.

例句

The museum's opening drew artists, reporters, and two former mayors.

possessive + opening for official event

School bands played outside the stadium before its grand opening.

collocation: grand opening

同義詞
  • inauguration

    more formal; often used for major public projects or officials

  • launch

    common for products, campaigns, or businesses; less ceremonial

  • ceremony

    broader; does not itself mean the start of something new

反義詞

文法句型

opening of + place/event

grand opening

用法筆記

Usually names a public event with guests or ceremonies. Distinguish from sense 3, which is simply the first part of something, and from sense 6, which is the act of physically opening or starting access.

常見錯誤

❌The funny opening of the museum made everyone laugh.
✅The funny opening of the film made everyone laugh.' / 'The museum opening made everyone laugh.
💡this sense is a ceremony for a place or event, not the first scene of a story.

3. the first part of a book, speech, meeting, game, or period of time.

3.名詞B2
釋義

the first part of a book, speech, meeting, game, or period of time.

例句

The novel's opening introduces three sisters in a stormy fishing town.

possessive + opening for text

The opening of the meeting included safety rules and attendance checks.

the opening of + event

同義詞
  • beginning

    the broadest everyday choice

  • start

    more conversational; often stresses the moment something begins

  • outset

    more formal and often used in fixed phrases

  • introduction

    only the part meant to lead into the main body

反義詞
  • ending

    the final part of something

  • close

    often used for the end of a meeting, speech, or period

文法句型

the opening of + event/period

someone's opening + noun

用法筆記

Often singular and often followed by 'of' or a possessive noun. Distinguish from sense 2: if no official ceremony is meant, this is usually the right sense.

常見錯誤

❌The opening of the mall was too long, so I left after ten minutes.
✅The opening of the film was too long, so I left after ten minutes.
💡this sense is the first part of a work or event, not the launch ceremony of a building.

4. the set of early moves a player chooses at the start of a chess game.

4.名詞
釋義

the set of early moves a player chooses at the start of a chess game.

例句

Mei practised the Sicilian opening before Saturday's club tournament.

named opening: the Sicilian opening

Arun's opening left his king exposed after only six moves.

同義詞
  • line

    a chess term for one possible sequence inside an opening

  • setup

    less exact; focuses on how the pieces are arranged

  • variation

    a branch inside a larger opening system, not the whole opening

反義詞
  • endgame

    the final stage of a chess game

文法句型

named opening

opening with + piece/color

用法筆記

This sense is specific to chess. It refers to a known plan or sequence of early moves, not just any general beginning.

5. a chance to get work or move ahead, especially an empty position that people can

5.名詞
釋義

a chance to get work or move ahead, especially an empty position that people can apply for.

例句

The hospital has two openings for trainee nurses this summer.

openings for + role

This internship could be an opening into the fashion business.

opening into + field

同義詞
  • vacancy

    focuses on an empty job position

  • opportunity

    broader; not limited to employment

  • chance

    more informal and less job-specific

  • foothold

    suggests a first small step into a field

文法句型

openings for + job

opening to + infinitive

opening into + field

用法筆記

Often plural when talking about available jobs. This is also the only noun sense here that commonly takes a to-infinitive ('an opening to learn', 'an opening to advance').

常見錯誤

❌There are openings of nurses at the hospital.
✅There are openings for nurses at the hospital.
💡available jobs take 'for', not 'of'.

6. the moment or process in which something is opened or begins to open.

6.名詞
釋義

the moment or process in which something is opened or begins to open.

例句

We heard a soft click at the opening of the old wooden box.

the opening of + object

The opening of the shop at nine brought a line of customers.

scheduled access: opening of the shop

同義詞
  • unlocking

    only when a lock is involved

  • unsealing

    used when something closed tightly is first opened

  • unfolding

    used for petals, leaves, or other things that spread out

反義詞

文法句型

the opening of + object/place

用法筆記

Usually follows 'the opening of'. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense is about the action or process itself, not a public ceremony.

常見錯誤

❌The opening ceremony of the gate took one second.
✅The opening of the gate took one second.
💡a physical action is not a ceremony.

opening — adjective