Curtain Raiser (Noun)

Meaning ¹

Any preliminary activity.

Classification

Nouns denoting acts or actions.

Examples

• The fireworks display served as a curtain raiser for the grand opening of the new stadium.
• The comedy act was a curtain raiser for the main event, a concert by a famous rock band.
• The parade was a curtain raiser for the annual cultural festival in the city.
• The speech by the guest of honor was a curtain raiser for the awards ceremony.
• The charity run was a curtain raiser for the international marathon that took place the following day.

Hypernyms

• Initiative
• Opening
• Opening Move

Meaning ²

A short play presented before the main play.

Classification

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents.

Examples

• The evening's entertainment began with a curtain raiser, a short comedy that set the tone for the rest of the night.
• A curtain raiser was presented before the main play, featuring a young actress who was making her stage debut.
• The curtain raiser was a one-act play that explored themes of love and loss, and it received a standing ovation from the audience.
• Before the main event, a curtain raiser was performed, a short drama that highlighted the talents of the theater company's newest members.
• The curtain raiser was a hilarious sketch that had the audience laughing and ready for the rest of the evening's performances.