Skip to content

opening move

noun

A move that is used to start a game such as chess.

Similar

first stepinitiative opening

Ask AI about this wordChatGPT Claude Perplexity Google AI Grok

Meanings

nounopening move (plural opening moves)

plural opening moves

gamesA move that is used to start a game such as chess.
broadlyThe beginning of a conversation, transaction, etc.
There is a common rationalisation that explains his recklessness as opening moves in a negotiation.
2025 February 5, “The Guardian view on Trump’s foreign policy: an alarming new order takes shape”, in The Guardian, →ISSN
1 more example
In her short time as CEO, she led an overhaul of the app, which changed how men and women initiate conversations on the app (it was built on the premise of women making the “opening move”).
2025 January 17, Alicia Adamczyk, “Bumble’s new CEO is already leaving the company as shares fell 54% since killing the signature feature and letting men message first”, in Fortune

Synonyms & antonyms

nounthe first of a series of actions

Similar

first stepinitiative opening

Broader

beginning start commencement

Also see

initiative opening

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Translations

German Eröffnungszug

Eröffnungszugmove to start a game

Cite this entry

APA

opening move. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/opening%20move

MLA

“opening move.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/opening%20move. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “opening move,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/opening%20move.

Source: opening move on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.