Pronunciations (4)
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/ˈəʊ.pən/
Pronunciation notes
- Received-Pronunciation
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/ˈɒ.pɪn/
Pronunciation notes
- Northumbria
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/ˈoʊ.pən/
Pronunciation notes
- General-American
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/ˈəʉ.pən/
Pronunciation notes
- Australia
Adjective
Physically unobstructed, uncovered, etc. Able to have something pass through or along it.
Usage- not-comparable
- usually
- Examples
-
Come in – the door's open.
The ice has cleared and the channel is open again.
More examples (1)
she had heard stories about him, flutters of talk through open doors.
Physically unobstructed, uncovered, etc. Not covered, sealed, etc.; having an opening or aperture showing what is inside.
Usage- not-comparable
- usually
- Examples
-
The jewellery box was lying open.
Don't just stand there with your mouth open!
More examples (1)
Along the street ran an open sewer.
Physically unobstructed, uncovered, etc. Not physically drawn together, folded or contracted.
Usage- not-comparable
- usually
- Examples
-
She greeted them with open arms.
The book was open at page 23.
More examples (3)
an open hand; an open flower; an open (loosely woven) fabric
Each, with open arms, embraced her chosen knight.
When the top sheet, blanket, and bedspread of a closed bed are turned back, or fanfolded, the closed bed becomes an open bed, or a bed ready to receive a patient or resident.
Physically unobstructed, uncovered, etc. Of a space, free of objects and obstructions.
Usage- not-comparable
- usually
- Examples
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It was a large, open room.
Most of the site was occupied by huts, but there was an open area in the centre.
More examples (2)
Soon we left the forest behind and we were out in open country.
The open road, the dusty highway[…]
Physically unobstructed, uncovered, etc. Resulting from an incision, puncture or any other process by which the skin no longer protects an internal part of the body.
Usage- not-comparable
- usually
- Examples
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an open fracture
Physically unobstructed, uncovered, etc. Unlocked or unlatched but not physically open.
Usage- not-comparable
- proscribed
- sometimes
- usually
Physically unobstructed, uncovered, etc. In a position allowing fluid to flow.
Usage- not-comparable
- usually
- of valve or damper
Physically unobstructed, uncovered, etc. Of a sandwich, etc.: composed of a single slice of bread with a topping.
Usage- not-comparable
- usually
- Synonyms
- Examples
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open sandwich
More examples (1)
Starry food is fun to make. You can buy bright yellow American mustard (which isn’t too strong!) in squeezy bottles and pipe stars on to hot dogs and open burgers or sandwiches.
When the burgers are ready, place them on the toasted rolls with the romaine lettuce leaves and top with the salsa. Serve as open burgers.
More examples (1)
Sunday morning in Wellow and we feast on open bagels with grilled ham, tomato and Swiss cheese, requested and highly praised.
Physically unobstructed, uncovered, etc. Not of a quality to prevent communication, as by closing waterways, blocking roads, etc.; hence, not frosty or inclement; mild; used of the weather or the climate.
Usage- not-comparable
- Regional
- usually
- Examples
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an open winter
More examples (1)
He desires me to tell you that the present open weather induces him to accept Mr Vernon's invitation to prolong his stay in Sussex that they may have some hunting together.
Able to be used or interacted with in some way. Available for use or operation.
Usage- not-comparable
- Examples
-
Your bank account is now open.
Phone lines open at 10 pm.
More examples (1)
This is the only option open to us.
Able to be used or interacted with in some way. Actively conducting or prepared to conduct business.
Usage- not-comparable
- Examples
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The shop is open until six.
Banks are not open on bank holidays.
Able to be used or interacted with in some way. Allowing entrance to visitors or the public.
Usage- not-comparable
- Examples
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I hereby declare this fete open.
The school has an open day on Saturday.
Able to be used or interacted with in some way. Receptive.
Usage- comparable
- Examples
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I am open to new ideas.
Wherefore if Demetrius […] have a matter against any man, the law is open and there are deputies.
More examples (1)
A U.K. survey found attitudes toward public transit had been set back by two decades, with only 43% of drivers open to using their car less, even if public transport improves.
Able to be used or interacted with in some way. Susceptible or vulnerable (to the stated means).
Usage- comparable
- with ‘to’
- Examples
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open to question; open to attack; open to criticism
The service that I truly did his life, / Hath left me open to all injuries.
Able to be used or interacted with in some way. In current use; connected to as a resource.
Usage- not-comparable
- usually
- of a file
- Examples
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I couldn't save my changes because another user had the same file open.
Able to be used or interacted with in some way. Running.
Usage- of a program or application
- Examples
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You're getting short of memory because you have too many apps open.
Not hidden or restricted.
- Examples
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More examples (1)
The U.S. recognizes Canadian sovereignty over the islands bordering the passage but insists that the passage itself is an international waterway open to ships of all nations.
Not hidden or restricted. Not concealed; overt.
- Examples
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It is a blatant example of open criminality.
His thefts were too open.
More examples (1)
That I may find him, and with secret gaze / Or open admiration him behold.
Not hidden or restricted. Of a person, not concealing their feelings, opinions, etc.; candid, ingenuous.
- Examples
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Nowadays people are more open about their sexuality.
1731-1735, Alexander Pope, Moral Essays with aspect open, shall erect his head
More examples (3)
The Moor is of a free and open nature.
The French are always open, familiar, and talkative.
Due to severe and pervasive discrimination, people dared not be open about their homosexuality, and because no one would be open, social prejudice and discrimination became even stronger.
Not hidden or restricted. Public.
Usage- not-comparable
- Examples
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He published an open letter to the governor on a full page of The New York Times.
Not hidden or restricted. Written or sent with the intention that it may made public or referred to at any trial, rather than by way of confidential private negotiation for a settlement.
Usage- of correspondence
- Examples
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You will observe that this is an open letter and we reserve the right to mention it to the judge should the matter come to trial.
Not hidden or restricted. With open access, of open science, or both.
Usage- not-comparable
- Examples
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We hope that all aspects of the project will be open rather than paywalled.
Not hidden or restricted. Made public, usable with a free licence and without proprietary components.
- Examples
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More examples (1)
Since the launch early last year of […] two Silicon Valley start-ups offering free education through MOOCs, massive open online courses, the ivory towers of academia have been shaken to their foundations. University brands built in some cases over centuries have been forced to contemplate the possibility that information technology will rapidly make their existing business model obsolete.
Not hidden or restricted. Of a tournament or competition, allowing anyone to enter, especially or originally irrespective of professional or amateur status.
Not hidden or restricted. Characterised by free-flowing play.
- Examples
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Compared to their last match, which was a dour and defensive affair, this was a very open game.
Not completed or finalised. Not settled; not decided or determined; not withdrawn from consideration.
- Examples
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an open question
to keep an offer or opportunity open
Not completed or finalised. Not fulfilled or resolved; incomplete.
Usage- sometimes
- Examples
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I've got open orders for as many containers of red durum as you can get me.
Not completed or finalised. Not having one end joined to the other; not forming a closed loop.
- Examples
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an open curve, an open circuit
Not completed or finalised. In a position such that a circuit is not completed, preventing electricity from flowing.
Usage- of a switch or circuit breaker
Not completed or finalised. Having different first and last vertices.
Usage- of a walk
Not completed or finalised. Ending in a vowel; not having a coda.
Usage- of a syllable
Having a free variable.
Usage- of a formula
Which is part of a predefined collection of subsets of X, that defines a topological space on X.
Usage- of a set
Of a note, played without pressing the string against the fingerboard.
Of a note, played without closing any finger-hole, key or valve.
Uttered with a relatively wide opening of the articulating organs; said of vowels.
- Examples
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"Supposing somebody sees you, with all those flowers too? Supposing somebody writes him a letter? Ooooh!" (a pure round open Tamil O.)
Uttered, as a consonant, with the oral passage simply narrowed without closure.
Source code of a computer program that is not within the text of a macro being generated.
Usage- used before “code”
Having component words separated by spaces, as opposed to being joined together or hyphenated; for example, time slot as opposed to timeslot or time-slot.
Usage- of a multi-word compound
Of a club, bat or other hitting implement, angled upwards and/or (for a right-hander) clockwise of straight.
Usage- especially
Verb
To make or become physically unobstructed, uncovered, etc. To make or become accessible or clear for passage by moving from a shut position.
Usage- Intransitive
- Transitive
- Examples
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Please open the window.
Turn the doorknob to open the door.
The door opened all by itself.
More examples (2)
I made a speaking trumpet of my hands and commenced to whoop “Ahoy!” and “Hello!” at the top of my lungs. […] The Colonel woke up, and, after asking what in brimstone was the matter, opened his mouth and roared “Hi!” and “Hello!” like the bull of Bashan.
‘No. I only opened the door a foot and put my head in. The street lamps shine into that room. I could see him. He was all right. Sleeping like a great grampus. Poor, poor chap.’
To make or become physically unobstructed, uncovered, etc. To make or become clear by removal of objects and obstructions, so as to allow passage, access, or visibility.
Usage- Intransitive
- Transitive
- Examples
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The icebreaker opened the channel.
The ice melted away and the channel opened.
More examples (3)
He opened a path through the undergrowth.
After we left the forest, the country opened into a wide, flat plain.
I stumbled along through the young pines and huckleberry bushes. Pretty soon I struck into a sort of path that, I cal'lated, might lead to the road I was hunting for. It twisted and turned, and, the first thing I knew, made a sudden bend around a bunch of bayberry scrub and opened out into a big clear space like a lawn.
To make or become physically unobstructed, uncovered, etc. To unseal or uncover, or become unsealed or uncovered.
Usage- Intransitive
- Transitive
- Examples
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You can open your eyes now!
Her eyes opened wide.
More examples (1)
He had kept on recording everything then, when he had been sure he was going to die, and he went on recording everything now, when he was suddenly consumed with hate for the boy in his arms and overwhelmed by a desire to put something—his motorcycle key would do nicely — into the interfering little prayboy’s throat and open him like a can of beer.
To make or become physically unobstructed, uncovered, etc. To spread; to expand into a wider or looser position.
Usage- Intransitive
- Transitive
- Examples
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to open a closed fist
to open matted cotton by separating the fibres
More examples (3)
to open a map, book, scroll, padlock
The flower opened in the sunlight.
Her arms opened in welcome.
To make or become physically unobstructed, uncovered, etc. To make (a bed) ready for a patient by folding back the bedcovers.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
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Follow agency policy, or open the bed by folding the top linens back.
To make or become physically unobstructed, uncovered, etc. To reveal one's hand.
Usage- Intransitive
- Transitive
- Examples
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Jeff opens his hand revealing a straight flush.
To make or become physically unobstructed, uncovered, etc. To move to a position allowing fluid to flow.
Usage- Intransitive
- Transitive
- of valve or damper
To make or become physically unobstructed, uncovered, etc. To angle (a club, bat or other hitting implement) upwards and/or (for a right-hander) clockwise of straight.
Usage- especially
- Intransitive
- Transitive
To cause or allow a gap to form or widen.
Usage- Intransitive
- Transitive
- Examples
-
Mudchester Rovers opened a sizeable lead on their rivals.
A link opened under the strain, and the chain came apart.
To cause or allow a gap to form or widen. To move to a position preventing electricity from flowing.
Usage- Intransitive
- Transitive
- of a switch
To make or become available for use or interaction. To make or become operative or available.
Usage- Intransitive
- Transitive
- Examples
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He opened a secret bank account in Switzerland.
We're opening the phone lines in ten minutes.
More examples (1)
Phone lines will open in ten minutes.
To make or become available for use or interaction. To make or become accessible to customers, clients or visitors.
Usage- Intransitive
- Transitive
- Examples
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I will open the shop an hour early tomorrow.
The summer fete was opened by the mayor.
More examples (3)
The shop opens at 9:00.
The fete opened an hour late because of bad weather.
Suiping was opened as a main station in 1912 when Rev. H. M. Nesse arrived to take charge of the mission work.
To make or become available for use or interaction. To make or become receptive or susceptible (to something).
Usage- Intransitive
- Transitive
- Examples
-
Reading this book will open you to new ideas.
This policy will open the government to criticism.
More examples (1)
As he grew older, he opened to new ways of doing things.
To make or become available for use or interaction. To connect to a resource (a file, document, etc.) for viewing or editing.
Usage- Intransitive
- Transitive
- Examples
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Open the file on your computer.
I can't open the file because someone else is editing it.
To make or become available for use or interaction. To turn on; to switch on.
Usage- Manglish
- Quebec
- Examples
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Please open the lights, the (electric) fan, the TV.
To start or begin. To start (an event or activity) as the first performer or actor.
Usage- Intransitive
- Transitive
- Examples
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The show was opened by a terrible Elvis impersonator.
Our band opened, and they came on second.
More examples (1)
Vermont will open elk hunting season next week.
To start or begin. To precede another as a performer at a concert or show.
Usage- Intransitive
- with ‘for’
- Examples
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Our band opened for Nirvana.
To start or begin. Of an event, activity etc., to start or get underway.
Usage- Intransitive
- Examples
-
The meeting opened with a statement from the chairman.
To start or begin. To bring up, broach.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
-
I don't want to open that subject.
To start or begin. To enter upon, begin.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
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to open a discussion
to open fire upon an enemy
More examples (2)
to open trade, or correspondence
to open a case in court, or a meeting
To start or begin. To start running (a program or application, especially one with a screen-based interface).
Usage- Intransitive
- Transitive
- Examples
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Click this icon to open Microsoft Word.
To start or begin. To begin a side's innings as one of the first two batsmen.
Usage- Intransitive
To start or begin. To bet before any other player has in a particular betting round in a game of poker.
Usage- Intransitive
- Examples
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After the first two players fold, Julie opens for $5.
To make an open relationship or marriage, i.e., with possible additional relationships.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
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More examples (3)
He assured me, unequivocally, that he was, and that he rather enjoyed the side benefits of my trysts: I was happier and living more honestly, as well as off his back about many of the issues that had been troublesome for me before we opened our relationship.
I wouldn’t do it unless there is a reason for it, I wouldn’t open a marriage just for fun. I think it’s too dangerous. I know I’m a monogamous type of person—I like just one person at a time; actually sleeping with more than one person in separate relationships is too confusing.
Social situations involved in opening relationships are uncertain, rather than risky, environments. Although some people might say, “Absolutely not,” it may be difficult to predict the likelihood people will respond favorably to the prospect, in part because a wide range of unknown or unknowable factors may drive their willingness.
To disclose; to reveal; to interpret; to explain.
Usage- Obsolete
- Examples
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The king opened himself to some of his council, that he was sorry for the earl's death.
Unto thee have I opened my cause.
Noun
Open or unobstructed space; an exposed location.
Usage- in the definite
- Examples
-
I can't believe you left the lawnmower out in the open when you knew it was going to rain this afternoon!
Wary of hunters, the fleeing deer kept well out of the open, dodging instead from thicket to thicket.
Public knowledge or scrutiny; full view.
Usage- in the definite
- Examples
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We have got to bring this company's corrupt business practices into the open.
A defect in an electrical circuit preventing current from flowing.
- Examples
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The electrician found the open in the circuit after a few minutes of testing.
A sports event in which anybody can compete, especially or originally irrespective of amateur or professional status.
- Examples
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the Australian Open
The act of something being opened, such as an e-mail message.
- Examples
-
The total number of opens from original, or unique, subscribers.
Adjective
affording unobstructed entrance and exit; not shut or closed
- Synonyms
- Antonyms
- Examples
-
an open door
they left the door open
affording free passage or access
- Antonyms
- Examples
-
open drains
the road is open to traffic
More examples (1)
open ranks
with no protection or shield
- Synonyms
- Examples
-
the exposed northeast frontier
open to the weather
More examples (1)
an open wound
open to or in view of all
- Examples
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an open protest
an open letter to the editor
used of mouth or eyes
- Synonyms
- Antonyms
- Examples
-
keep your eyes open
his mouth slightly opened
not having been filled
- Examples
-
the job is still open
accessible to all
- Examples
-
open season
an open economy
not defended or capable of being defended
- Synonyms
- Examples
-
an open city
open to attack
(of textures) full of small openings or gaps
- Synonyms
- Examples
-
an open texture
a loose weave
having no protecting cover or enclosure
- Examples
-
an open boat
an open fire
More examples (1)
open sports cars
(set theory) of an interval that contains neither of its endpoints
- Antonyms
not brought to a conclusion; subject to further thought
- Synonyms
- Examples
-
an open question
our position on this bill is still undecided
More examples (1)
our lawsuit is still undetermined
not sealed or having been unsealed
- Synonyms
- Examples
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the letter was already open
the opened package lay on the table
without undue constriction as from e.g. tenseness or inhibition
- Examples
-
the clarity and resonance of an open tone
her natural and open response
ready or willing to receive favorably
- Synonyms
- Examples
-
receptive to the proposals
open and observable; not secret or hidden
- Synonyms
- Examples
-
an overt lie
overt hostility
More examples (2)
overt intelligence gathering
open ballots
not requiring union membership
- Examples
-
an open shop employs nonunion workers
possibly accepting or permitting
- Examples
-
a passage capable of misinterpretation
open to interpretation
More examples (2)
an issue open to question
the time is fixed by the director and players and therefore subject to much variation
affording free passage or view
- Synonyms
- Examples
-
a clear view
a clear path to victory
More examples (2)
open waters
the open countryside
openly straightforward and direct without reserve or secretiveness
- Synonyms
- Examples
-
his candid eyes
an open and trusting nature
More examples (1)
a heart-to-heart talk
ready for business
- Examples
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the stores are open
Noun
a clear or unobstructed space or expanse of land or water
- Synonyms
- Examples
-
finally broke out of the forest into the open
where the air is unconfined
- Synonyms
- Examples
-
he wanted to get outdoors a little
the concert was held in the open air
More examples (1)
camping in the open
a tournament in which both professionals and amateurs may play
- Broader terms
information that has become public
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
- Examples
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all the reports were out in the open
the facts had been brought to the surface
Verb
cause to open or to become open
- Synonyms
- Antonyms
- Examples
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Mary opened the car door
start to operate or function or cause to start operating or functioning
- Synonyms
- Antonyms
- Examples
-
open a business
become open
- Synonyms
- Antonyms
- Broader terms
- Examples
-
The door opened
begin or set in action, of meetings, speeches, recitals, etc.
- Antonyms
- Examples
-
He opened the meeting with a long speech
spread out or open from a closed or folded state
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
- Examples
-
open the map
spread your arms
make available
- Synonyms
- Examples
-
This opens up new possibilities
become available
- Synonyms
- Examples
-
an opportunity opened up
have an opening or passage or outlet
- Examples
-
The bedrooms open into the hall
make the opening move
- Examples
-
Kasparov opened with a standard opening
display the contents of a file or start an application as on a computer
- Antonyms