opener

An opener isn't always a can opener! It's anything that starts something—a conversation, a game, or even a season. Think of the first game of a baseball season; it's the opener. Or maybe you have an "icebreaker" question to use as an opener at a party. A good opener grabs attention and sets the stage for what comes next. It can be a person, a statement, or even just a clever tactic. Sometimes, an opener is someone who performs first—like the opening act at a concert.

The word "opener" usually refers to something that opens or starts something. We often think of tools first—like a bottle opener or can opener—but the word is also used in many other everyday ways. It often points to the first part of something and to what comes before the main event.

Think about a conversation: a good opener is a question or remark that gets people talking. In entertainment, the opener at a concert is the performer who comes on before the main act. In sports, the opener is often the first game of a season or series. In baseball, it can also mean a pitcher who starts the game and usually plays only a short time.

The word can also describe the first item in a set, show, or program, or a line that begins a speech, joke, or letter. In that sense, an opener helps people move into what follows. So whether it is a tool, a first game, an opening question, or the act before the headliner, an opener is something that opens the way or gets things started.