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Glite Dictionary
opening move

opening move

2 3.9
The first action someone takes at the start of a game or negotiation
  • noun
translation icon : movimiento inicial
  • Indeed, I became a master only after expanding my white repertoire to include a more standard opening move, in my case 1.e4.
  • make the opening move

Hurley returns to the US despondent, and Mao make their opening moves on the battlefield their prime objective?

Examples

  • After just a dozen opening moves, the exhausted players call a quick draw and shake hands in gratitude for playing along, for sparing each other needless trouble.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • Their opening move was to build the wheel in our space.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • This is clearly the opening move of a Russian invasion.

    Blog text (32)

  • I pick up my chess book and study famous opening moves.

    Blog text (9)

  • In other words, as an opening move, hardware-wise, Amazon's getting it right.

    Blog text (1)

  • In chess, a strong opening move can set the tone for the entire game.

  • Her opening move in the negotiation was to propose a compromise that favored both parties.

  • A well-planned opening move can give you an advantage in any competitive situation.

Synonyms

opening
vsopening move
350 1.0

The first part that marks the start of something, for example a ceremony

is the first planned action in a sequence, especially for games or negotiations
first step
vsopening move
281 1.4

The first action you take to begin something

is a deliberate first action used in games or negotiations
opener
vsopening move
65 2.5

The first event in a series, often a performance or game

is the first planned action within a series, not just a starting event
initiative
vsopening move
34 4.2

The first action that starts a series of events

is the first planned action within a sequence, not general leadership

Antonyms

endgame
18 5.6

The final stage of talks or a process when the result is decided

How Early

opening move
2 3.9
preparatory
15 4.7

Surface Forms

opening move singular
opening moves plural

Morphology

opening + move

The sense 'the first action' is directly and compositionally built from 'opening' (first part/start) + 'move' (an action), following a common noun+noun pattern. This construction is cross-linguistically common and predictable, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

The phrase opening move comes from games like chess, where the opening is the start and the first move can decide how the game will go. So it is used for 'the first action in a series of planned steps' in talks, competitions, or negotiations.