Meaning of open in English

Table of contents
  1. Pronunciation
  2. Verb
    1. Definitions
  3. Classifying Adjective
    1. Definitions
  4. Noun
    1. Definitions
  5. Qualitative Adjective
    1. Etymology
    2. Definitions

  1. Pronunciation

    /ˈoʊpən/

    US accent Play button

    UK accent Play button

  1. Verb

    open

    Definitions

    1. cause to open or to become open

    Examples

    • « Mary opened the car door »

    Antonyms

    Derived terms

  2. 2. start to operate or function or cause to start operating or functioning

    Examples

    • « open a business »

    Antonyms

    Derived terms

  3. 3. become open

    Examples

    • « The door opened »

    Antonyms

    Derived terms

  4. 4. begin or set in action, of meetings, speeches, recitals, etc.

    Examples

    • « He opened the meeting with a long speech »

    Antonyms

    Derived terms

  5. 5. spread out or open from a closed or folded state

    Examples

    • « open the map »
    • « spread your arms »

    Antonyms

    Derived terms

  6. 6. make available

    Examples

    • « This opens up new possibilities »

    Derived terms

  7. 7. become available

    Examples

    • « an opportunity opened up »

    Derived terms

  8. 8. have an opening or passage or outlet

    Examples

    • « The bedrooms open into the hall »

    Derived terms

  9. 9. make the opening move

    Examples

    • « Kasparov opened with a standard opening »

    Derived terms

  10. 10. afford access to

    Examples

    • « the door opens to the patio »
    • « The French doors give onto a terrace »

    Derived terms

  11. 11. display the contents of a file or start an application as on a computer

    Antonyms

  12. Classifying Adjective

    open

    Definitions

    1. with no protection or shield

    Examples

    • « the exposed northeast frontier »
    • « open to the weather »
    • « an open wound »

    Synonyms

  13. 2. open to or in view of all

    Examples

    • « an open protest »
    • « an open letter to the editor »

    Synonyms

  14. 3. not having been filled

    Examples

    • « the job is still open »

    Synonyms

  15. 4. accessible to all

    Examples

    • « open season »
    • « an open economy »

    Synonyms

  16. 5. not defended or capable of being defended

    Examples

    • « an open city »
    • « open to attack »

    Synonyms

  17. 6. (of textures) full of small openings or gaps

    Examples

    • « an open texture »
    • « a loose weave »

    Synonyms

  18. 7. having no protecting cover or enclosure

    Examples

    • « an open boat »
    • « an open fire »
    • « open sports cars »

    Synonyms

  19. 8. opened out

    Examples

    • « an open newspaper »

    Synonyms

  20. 9. not brought to a conclusion

    Examples

    • « subject to further thought »
    • « an open question »
    • « our position on this bill is still undecided »
    • « our lawsuit is still undetermined »

    Synonyms

  21. 10. not sealed or having been unsealed

    Examples

    • « the letter was already open »
    • « the opened package lay on the table »

    Synonyms

  22. 11. without undue constriction as from e.g. tenseness or inhibition

    Examples

    • « the clarity and resonance of an open tone »
    • « her natural and open response »

    Synonyms

  23. 12. relatively empty of and unobstructed by fences or hedges or headlands or shoals

    Examples

    • « in open country »
    • « the open countryside »
    • « open waters »
    • « on the open seas »

    Synonyms

  24. 13. possibly accepting or permitting

    Examples

    • « a passage capable of misinterpretation »
    • « open to interpretation »
    • « an issue open to question »
    • « the time is fixed by the director and players and therefore subject to much variation »

    Synonyms

  25. 14. not secret

    Examples

    • « open plans »
    • « an open ballot »

    Synonyms

  26. 15. without any attempt at concealment

    Examples

    • « completely obvious »
    • « open disregard of the law »
    • « open family strife »
    • « open hostility »
    • « a blatant appeal to vanity »
    • « a blazing indiscretion »

    Synonyms

  27. 16. affording free passage or view

    Examples

    • « a clear view »
    • « a clear path to victory »

    Synonyms

  28. 17. lax in enforcing laws

    Examples

    • « an open town »

    Synonyms

  29. 18. openly straightforward and direct without reserve or secretiveness

    Examples

    • « his candid eyes »
    • « an open and trusting nature »
    • « a heart-to-heart talk »

    Synonyms

  30. 19. sincere and free of reserve in expression

    Examples

    • « Please be open with me »

    Synonyms

  31. 20. receptive to new ideas

    Examples

    • « an open mind »
    • « open to new ideas »

    Synonyms

  32. 21. ready for business

    Examples

    • « the stores are open »

    Synonyms

  33. Noun

    open

    Definitions

    1. a clear or unobstructed space or expanse of land or water

    Examples

    • « finally broke out of the forest into the open »

    Derived terms

  34. 2. where the air is unconfined

    Examples

    • « he wanted to get outdoors a little »
    • « the concert was held in the open air »
    • « camping in the open »
  35. 3. a tournament in which both professionals and amateurs may play
  36. 4. information that has become public

    Examples

    • « all the reports were out in the open »
    • « the facts had been brought to the surface »

    Derived terms

  37. Qualitative Adjective

    open

    Etymology

    Old English open (adjective), openian (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch open and German offen, from the root of the adverb up

    Definitions

    1. affording unobstructed entrance and exit

    Examples

    • « not shut or closed »
    • « an open door »
    • « they left the door open »

    Synonyms

    Antonyms

  38. 2. affording free passage or access

    Examples

    • « open drains »
    • « the road is open to traffic »
    • « open ranks »

    Synonyms

    Antonyms

  39. 3. used of mouth or eyes

    Examples

    • « keep your eyes open »
    • « his mouth slightly opened »

    Synonyms

    Antonyms

  40. 4. of a set

    Examples

    • « containing points whose neighborhood consists of other points of the same set, or being the complement of an open set »
    • « of an interval »
    • « containing neither of its end points »

    Antonyms

  41. 5. open and observable

    Examples

    • « not secret or hidden »
    • « an overt lie »
    • « overt hostility »
    • « overt intelligence gathering »

    Synonyms

    Antonyms

  42. 6. used of string or hole or pipe of instruments

    Antonyms

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