open

SayOH-puhn/ˈoʊ.pən//ˈəʊ.pən//ˈəʉ.pən/

Verbopens, opening, opened

Noun pluralopens

66 meanings of open

Practice

1
verbtransitive or intransitive
To move something such as a door, lid or box so that it is not shut any more.
Like peeling the foil lid off a yogurt cup.
Please open the package on the table.
This envelope opens easily if you pull the little tab.
UsageSay open the door, but turn on the light (not ~~incorrect: open the light~~).
Similarunseal, unwrap
Oppositeclose, shut, seal
2
begin serviceverbtransitive or intransitive
To make or become ready for people to use or visit, for the day or for the first time.
Like unlocking the front door so shoppers can come in.
They open the shop at seven each morning.
The clinic opens at eight on weekdays.
UsageSay The shop opens at nine and It's open now.
Similarlaunch, start (entry), establish
Oppositeclose
3
adjective
Not closed or covered, so you can see or reach what is inside.
Like a lunchbox with the lid taken off.
The box was open, so we could see the toys inside.
Don't leave the paint can open, or it will dry out.
UsageSay The door is open; opened is for the action.
Similaruncovered, unsealed
Oppositeclosed, shut, sealed
4
adjective
Ready for customers or visitors to come in.
Like a playground that any child can walk into.
The park is open to everyone on weekends.
Is the museum open to visitors today?
UsageSay open to the public.
Similaraccessible
Oppositeclosed, shut
Note
5
startverbintransitive
To start, or to make something such as a meeting or event start.
Like a race that starts when the whistle blows.
The fair opens on Friday morning.
The meeting will open with a short talk from the mayor.
UsageSay The show opens with a song.
Similarbegin, start (entry), commence
Oppositeclose, end, finish
6
launch an appverbtransitive or intransitive
To make a file or app start on a computer or phone so you can use it.
Like clicking on a book to read it on screen.
Click here to open the photo.
The document opens in a new window.
UsageSay open the file and close the file.
Similarload, launch, run
Oppositeclose
Note
7
availableadjective
Ready and free to be used.
Like an empty seat that anyone can take.
The new lane is open for traffic now.
Several spots are still open for the class.
UsageSay applications are open when you can apply.
Similaravailable, vacant, unfilled
Oppositeclosed, filled
8
adjective
Able to be seen or used by everyone, and not kept secret.
Like a park gate that anyone is free to walk through.
The town's budget is open, so anyone can read it online.
The court records are open, so anyone can look them up.
UsageSay open to the public.
Similarpublic, accessible, available
Oppositeclosed, private, restricted, confidential
Note
9
wide spaceadjective
Having lots of empty room with nothing in the way.
Like a big empty parking lot with no cars.
They ran across the open field behind the school.
We need open space to set up the tents.
UsageSay open country for land with nothing in the way.
Similarclear, empty, unobstructed
Oppositecluttered, enclosed
Note
10
willing to listenadjective
Ready to listen to new ideas and not against them.
Like a door left ajar, ready to let new ideas in.
She is always open to feedback from her team.
He stayed open to changing his plans when better options came up.
UsageSay open to new ideas.
Similarreceptive, amenable, responsive
Oppositeresistant, unreceptive
11
free softwareadjective
Shared with everyone under a license that lets anyone use, copy and change it, with no restricted parts.
Our teacher uses an open textbook, so nobody has to buy a copy.
The game is built on open code that anyone may change and share.
UsageSay open source for software anyone can use and change.
Similarfree
Oppositeproprietary, closed
Note
12
verbtransitive or intransitive
To take away things that block the way, so people can pass or see.
Like clearing fallen branches off a trail so you can walk through.
Workers open a path through the snow each winter.
Crews moved the fallen trees and opened the road again.
Similarclear, unblock
Oppositeblock, close
13
honestadjective
Of a person, willing to share their true feelings and opinions.
Like a friend who tells you exactly what they think.
She is very open about her past.
He was open with us about how he felt.
UsageSay open about something and open with someone.
Similarfrank, candid, honest, forthcoming
Oppositesecretive, guarded, reserved
Note
14
adjective
Clear, so that things can move through or along it.
Like a clear pipe that lets water run straight through.
The road is open again after the snow was cleared.
Keep the valve open so water can flow freely.
UsageOften after keep or stay: keep the road open.
Similarclear, passable, unobstructed
Oppositeclosed, blocked, impassable
Note
15
split apartverbtransitive or intransitive
To make a gap appear or get bigger, or to come apart so a gap appears.
The runners in front began to open a gap on the rest.
A crack opened in the ice under our feet.
UsageSay open a lead when a runner gets further ahead.
Similarsplit, widen
Oppositeclose
16
undecidedadjective
Still not decided or settled.
Like a question with no answer written down yet.
The question of who will lead the team remains open.
We left the date open until everyone replied.
UsageSay an open question for one not yet answered.
Similarunresolved, undecided, unsettled, pending
Oppositesettled, decided, resolved, closed
17
exposed placenoun
A wide, empty space with nothing to hide behind.
Like standing alone in the middle of an empty field.
They camped out in the open under the stars.
The deer bolted from the trees into the open.
UsageSay out in the open for outside with no cover.
Note
18
adjective
Letting any player enter a contest, whether paid or not.
Like a sign-up sheet that anyone is allowed to add their name to.
The tournament is open to players of every skill level.
They made the championship open, so amateurs could compete too.
UsageSay open to all for a contest anyone can enter.
Note
19
tournamentnouncountable
A sports contest that anyone can enter, whether paid players or not.
Like a race where anyone can sign up, not just the experts.
She won her first open at the age of nineteen.
Hundreds of players entered the local open this spring.
UsageSay the Australian Open, with the.
Note
20
plain to seeadjective
Not hidden or secret, and done where everyone can see.
Like a sign held up high for everyone to read.
There was open anger on his face.
Their friendship slowly turned into open rivalry.
UsageSay open anger for anger everyone can see.
Similarovert, undisguised, unconcealed, blatant, public
Oppositehidden, secret, covert, concealed
21
verbtransitive or intransitive
To be the first to perform and so begin a show or event.
Like the first act at a show that gets the whole night started.
A local band will open the festival tonight.
The comedian opened for the main act before the crowd settled.
UsageOpen for a star means play before the star.
Oppositeclose
Note
22
verbtransitive
To start a new account, file or case, most often a bank account.
I want to open a bank account so I can save my money.
The detective opened a new case after the jewelry went missing.
Similarstart (entry), create, establish
Oppositeclose
Note

Less common meanings

23
adjective
Spread out wide, not folded up or pressed together.
Like a hand fan that has been spread out all the way.
The flower's petals were fully open in the afternoon sun.
She held her hand open to show the coins on her palm.
UsageSay welcome someone with open arms.
Similarunfolded, outspread
Oppositeclosed, folded
Note
24
verbtransitive or intransitive
To spread out wider, or to become looser.
Like a paper fan spreading out from a tight bundle.
She opened her arms wide for a hug.
The umbrella won't open in this strong wind.
Similarunfold, spread, unfurl
Oppositeclose, fold
25
verbtransitive or intransitive
To make someone ready for new things or easy to attack, or to become ready for new things.
The mistake opened him to criticism from his whole team.
Traveling can open children to new ways of life.
UsageSay open someone to criticism.
Similarexpose
26
adjective
With the skin cut or broken, so that a part inside the body is no longer covered.
He had an open fracture, and the bone was poking through the skin.
Keep an open wound clean and covered.
UsageOften in an open wound or an open fracture.
Similarcompound
Oppositeclosed
Note
27
raise topicverbtransitive
To bring up a topic so people can start talking about it.
At dinner, Mom finally opened the subject of moving to a new town.
Let's open the question of where to go next.
UsageSay open the subject to start talking about it.
Similarraise, broach, introduce
Oppositeclose
28
adjective
Running on a computer or phone, like an app you are using.
Keep the music app open while you play the game.
Is the email program still open on your computer?
UsageSay I have ten apps open.
Similarrunning
Oppositeclosed
Note
29
vulnerableadjective
Easy to affect or harm in the way that is named.
Like a cut left without a bandage, easy for germs to reach.
The plan leaves the company open to legal action.
His argument is open to criticism on several points.
UsageSay open to attack.
Similarvulnerable, exposed, susceptible, liable
Oppositeimmune, invulnerable
30
no defenderadjectivesports
In team sports, not guarded by a player from the other team.
Pass it to Maya, she's open!
He missed an open net from five feet away.
UsageSay wide open for a player no one is guarding.
Similarunguarded, unmarked
Oppositecovered, marked
31
adjective
Having two ends that do not join into a ring.
Like a letter C, which has a gap and never closes into a ring.
The wire forms an open curve rather than a full circle.
Leave the circuit open so no current can flow.
Oppositeclosed
Note
32
public knowledgenoun
A state where everyone can see or know about something.
Like turning on a light so everyone can see what was hidden.
The scandal was finally brought out into the open.
She felt relieved once her worries were out in the open.
UsageSay bring it into the open to make it known.
Similarlight
33
adjective
Used about a relationship or marriage in which both partners agree they can date or have sex with other people.
They told their friends that they have an open relationship.
Their marriage is open, and both of them are honest about the other people they date.
UsageMostly in open relationship and open marriage. Open with each other means honest.
Oppositemonogamous, exclusive
34
adjective
Still shut, but with the lock or latch undone.
35
adjective
Set so that liquid or gas can flow through.
36
adjective
Made with just one slice of bread, with food on top.
37
adjectivedialectal
Mild, with no frost or snow to close roads.
38
adjective
Being used right now, like a file on a computer.
39
adjective
In law, able to be shown in court, not kept private.
40
adjective
Free for anyone to read and use, like some research.
41
adjective
Of a game, played freely, with lots of room to attack.
42
adjective
Of a circuit or switch, not joined up, so electricity cannot flow.
43
adjective
In math, of a path, ending at a different point from where it starts.
44
adjective
Of a syllable, ending in a vowel sound.
45
adjective
In logic, of a formula, having a variable not tied to a word like 'all' or 'some'.
46
adjective
In math, of a set, belonging to the chosen group of sets that gives a space its structure.
47
adjective
Played on a string without pressing it down.
48
adjective
Played on a wind instrument without covering any holes, closing any keys, or using valves.
49
adjective
Said with the mouth wide open, like the a in father.
50
adjective
Of a consonant, made by narrowing the air passage without closing it, like f or s.
51
adjective
In programming, of code, not inside a macro.
52
adjective
Of a compound word, written as separate words with spaces between.
53
adjective
Of the face of a golf club, bat or racket, turned up or out from straight.
54
verb
To fold back a bed's covers so a patient can get in.
55
verb
In cards, to show everyone the cards you hold.
56
verb
To move so that liquid or gas can go through, like a valve.
57
verb
To turn the face of a golf club, bat or racket up or out from straight.
58
verb
To break a circuit so electricity stops flowing, as a switch does.
59
verbdialectalManglishQuebec
To turn on a light, TV or other machine.
60
verb
To play before the main act at a show.
61
verb
In cricket, to start your team's innings as part of the opening pair of batters.
62
verb
In poker, to bet first in a round.
63
verb
To change a marriage or relationship so partners can also see other people.
64
verbobsolete
To tell or explain something.
Unto thee have I opened my cause.
1611, The Holy Bible, King James Version
65
noun
A break in a circuit that stops electricity getting through.
66
noun
One time something, like an email, is opened.

More uses

open relationshipa relationship in which the partners agree they may see other people

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of open apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

The word 'open' comes from Old English 'open', going back to older Germanic roots meaning 'open'. It is related to the word 'up'.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

Open descends from Old English open and earlier Germanic forms meaning open. en.wiktionary.org
Open is etymologically related to up. en.wiktionary.org