opener
noun
open·er 
ˈōp-nər,
ˈō-pə- : one that opens
a bottle opener
: such as a
openers plural : cards of sufficient value for a player to open the betting in a poker game
b
: the first item, contest, or event of a series
Example Sentences
The album's opener is a slow love song.
Recent Examples on the Web More:Wisconsin gets back on track in rout of New Mexico State ahead of the team's Big Ten opener vs. Ohio St. 
Jeff Potrykus, Journal Sentinel, 19 Sep. 2022 In the Ravens’ home opener against the Miami Dolphins, quarterback Lamar Jackson was everything and more. Ryan Mcfadden, Baltimore Sun, 19 Sep. 2022 Chris Rodriguez is set to return from suspension for the SEC opener against Mississippi to open October. Paul Myerberg, USA TODAY, 19 Sep. 2022 Cathedral Prep has played two teams from Northeast Ohio, dropping a 47-14 season opener at Hoban. Matt Goul, cleveland, 19 Sep. 2022 Get the scoop on tonight’s opener, featuring Detroit lefty Tyler Alexander and Baltimore righty Tyler Wells, straight from the Freep’s Tyler J. Davis. Ryan Ford, Detroit Free Press, 19 Sep. 2022 Jones had an underwhelming season opener at Miami, managing to put only one touchdown on the board in a 20-7 loss. Dan Shaughnessy, BostonGlobe.com, 18 Sep. 2022 The 49ers’ season opener was played on waterlogged Soldier Field and ended in a deluge that left miniature lakes on the grass surface. Chronicle Staff, San Francisco Chronicle, 18 Sep. 2022 When the Chicago Bears left the field at halftime of Sunday’s season opener against the San Francisco 49ers down 7-0, the offensive coaches and players didn’t have a lot of positive stats to discuss on the rainy day. Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 18 Sep. 2022 See More
Jeff Potrykus, Journal Sentinel, 19 Sep. 2022 In the Ravens’ home opener against the Miami Dolphins, quarterback Lamar Jackson was everything and more. Ryan Mcfadden, Baltimore Sun, 19 Sep. 2022 Chris Rodriguez is set to return from suspension for the SEC opener against Mississippi to open October. Paul Myerberg, USA TODAY, 19 Sep. 2022 Cathedral Prep has played two teams from Northeast Ohio, dropping a 47-14 season opener at Hoban. Matt Goul, cleveland, 19 Sep. 2022 Get the scoop on tonight’s opener, featuring Detroit lefty Tyler Alexander and Baltimore righty Tyler Wells, straight from the Freep’s Tyler J. Davis. Ryan Ford, Detroit Free Press, 19 Sep. 2022 Jones had an underwhelming season opener at Miami, managing to put only one touchdown on the board in a 20-7 loss. Dan Shaughnessy, BostonGlobe.com, 18 Sep. 2022 The 49ers’ season opener was played on waterlogged Soldier Field and ended in a deluge that left miniature lakes on the grass surface. Chronicle Staff, San Francisco Chronicle, 18 Sep. 2022 When the Chicago Bears left the field at halftime of Sunday’s season opener against the San Francisco 49ers down 7-0, the offensive coaches and players didn’t have a lot of positive stats to discuss on the rainy day. Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 18 Sep. 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined above