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open

/ˈoʊpən/

/ˈʌʊpɛn/

IPA guide

Other forms: opened; opening; opens; openest

Something that's open allows you to move or see through it, like an open window or an open gate.

The adjective open describes something that's not closed or blocked up, like open curtains that provide a view of the garden outside. Open can also refer to something that's unfastened or parted — an open jar of peanut butter, an open eye, or an open book. Things that are vulnerable, straightforward, or uncovered are also open, and if you are open to suggestions, it means you are willing to consider new ideas.

Definitions of open
  1. adjective
    affording free passage or access
    open drains”
    “the road is open to traffic”
    open ranks”
    synonyms:
    unfastened
    affording unobstructed entrance and exit; not shut or closed
    opened
    made open or clear
    unstoppered
    (of a container) having the stopper removed
    yawning
    gaping open as if threatening to engulf someone or something
    unsealed
    not closed or secured with or as if with a seal
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    antonyms:
    closed
    not open or affording passage or access
    obstructed
    shut off to passage or view or hindered from action
    closed, shut, unopen
    not open
    blocked, out of use
    closed to traffic
    drawn
    having the curtains or draperies closed or pulled shut
    stoppered
    (of a container) having a stopper in the opening
    nonopening
    not open; not opening
    sealed
    closed or secured with or as if with a seal
    show more antonyms...
  2. adjective
    affording unobstructed entrance and exit; not shut or closed
    “an open door”
    “they left the door open
    synonyms: unfastened
    ajar
    slightly open
    wide-open
    open wide
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    antonyms:
    shut
    not open
    closed
    not open or affording passage or access
    show more antonyms...
  3. adjective
    affording free passage or view
    open waters”
    “the open countryside”
    synonyms: clear
    unobstructed
    free from impediment or obstruction or hindrance
  4. adjective
    used of mouth or eyes
    “keep your eyes open
    “his mouth slightly opened
    synonyms: opened
    agape, gaping
    with the mouth wide open as in wonder or awe
    agaze, staring
    (used of eyes) open and fixed as if in fear or wonder
    wide, wide-eyed
    (used of eyes) fully open or extended
    yawning
    with the mouth wide open indicating boredom or sleepiness
    see moresee less
    antonyms:
    closed
    used especially of mouth or eyes
    blinking, winking
    closing the eyes intermittently and rapidly
    compressed, tight
    pressed tightly together
    squinched, squinting
    having eyes half closed in order to see better
    show more antonyms...
  5. adjective
    not sealed or having been unsealed
    “the letter was already open
    “the opened package lay on the table”
    synonyms: opened
    unsealed
    not closed or secured with or as if with a seal
  6. adjective
    (set theory) of an interval that contains neither of its endpoints
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    antonyms:
    closed
    (set theory) of an interval that contains both its endpoints
  7. adjective
    (of textures) full of small openings or gaps
    “an open texture”
    synonyms: loose
    coarse, harsh
    of textures that are rough to the touch or substances consisting of relatively large particles
  8. verb
    cause to open or to become open
    “Mary opened the car door”
    synonyms: open up
    see moresee less
    antonyms:
    close
    move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut
    close, shut
    become closed
    show more antonyms...
    types:
    show 11 types...
    hide 11 types...
    unbar
    remove a bar from (a door)
    break open
    open with force
    click open
    open with a clicking sound
    reopen
    open again or anew
    unlock
    open the lock of
    unbolt
    undo the bolt of
    unseal
    break the seal of
    uncork
    draw the cork from (bottles)
    jimmy, lever, prise, prize, pry
    move or force, especially in an effort to get something open
    breach, gap
    make an opening or gap in
    lance
    open by piercing with a lancet
  9. verb
    become open
    “The door opened
    synonyms: open up
    see moresee less
    antonyms:
    close
    become closed
    close, shut
    move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut
    show more antonyms...
    types:
    unfasten
    become undone or untied
    fly open
    come open suddenly
    type of:
    change state, turn
    undergo a transformation or a change of position or action
  10. verb
    have an opening or passage or outlet
    “The bedrooms open into the hall”
  11. verb
    afford access to
    “the door opens to the patio”
    synonyms: afford, give
    see moresee less
    types:
    democratize
    make something accessible, available, or appealing to everyone
  12. verb
    spread out or open from a closed or folded state
    open the map”
    synonyms: spread, spread out, unfold
    see moresee less
    types:
    show 6 types...
    hide 6 types...
    divaricate
    spread apart
    exfoliate
    spread by opening the leaves of
    grass
    spread out clothes on the grass to let it dry and bleach
    butterfly
    cut and spread open, as in preparation for cooking
    uncross
    change from a crossed to an uncrossed position
    splay
    spread open or apart
    type of:
    undo
    cancel, annul, or reverse an action or its effect
  13. noun
    a clear or unobstructed space or expanse of land or water
    “finally broke out of the forest into the open
    synonyms: clear
    see moresee less
    type of:
    area, country
    a particular geographical region of indefinite boundary (usually serving some special purpose or distinguished by its people or culture or geography)
  14. noun
    where the air is unconfined
    “the concert was held in the open air”
    “camping in the open
    synonyms: open air, out-of-doors, outdoors
    see moresee less
    type of:
    exterior, outside
    the region that is outside of something
  15. adjective
    accessible to all
    open season”
    “an open economy”
    synonyms:
    unrestricted
    not subject to or subjected to restriction
  16. adjective
    open to or in view of all
    “an open protest”
    “an open letter to the editor”
    synonyms:
    public
    not private; open to or concerning the people as a whole
  17. adjective
    ready for business
    “the stores are open
    synonyms:
    active
    full of activity or engaged in continuous activity
  18. adjective
    open and observable; not secret or hidden
    open ballots”
    synonyms: overt
    explicit, expressed
    precisely and clearly expressed or readily observable; leaving nothing to implication
    bald, barefaced
    with no effort to conceal
    naked, raw
    devoid of elaboration or diminution or concealment; bare and pure
    undisguised
    plain to see
    visible
    obvious to the eye
    public
    not private; open to or concerning the people as a whole
    unconcealed
    not concealed or hidden
  19. adjective
    openly straightforward and direct without reserve or secretiveness
    “an open and trusting nature”
    synonyms: candid, heart-to-heart
    artless, ingenuous
    characterized by an inability to mask your feelings; not devious
  20. adjective
    ready or willing to receive favorably
    synonyms: receptive
    acceptant, acceptive
    accepting willingly
    admissive
    characterized by or allowing admission
    assimilative
    capable of mentally absorbing
    hospitable
    having an open mind
  21. adjective
    not requiring union membership
    “an open shop employs nonunion workers”
    synonyms:
    nonunion
    not belonging to or not allowing affiliation with a trade union
  22. adjective
    without undue constriction as from e.g. tenseness or inhibition
    “the clarity and resonance of an open tone”
    “her natural and open response”
    synonyms:
    unconstricted
    not constricted physically or by extension psychologically
  23. adjective
    not defended or capable of being defended
    “an open city”
    open to attack”
    synonyms: assailable, undefendable, undefended
    vulnerable
    susceptible to attack
  24. adjective
    having no protecting cover or enclosure
    “an open boat”
    “an open fire”
    open sports cars”
    synonyms:
    unenclosed
    not closed in our surrounded or included
  25. adjective
    with no protection or shield
    open to the weather”
    “an open wound”
    synonyms: exposed
    unprotected
    lacking protection or defense
  26. verb
    become available
    “an opportunity opened up”
    synonyms: open up
    see moresee less
    type of:
    arise, come up
    result or issue
  27. verb
    make available
    “This opens up new possibilities”
    synonyms: open up
    see moresee less
    type of:
    afford, give, yield
    be the cause or source of
  28. verb
    display the contents of a file or start an application as on a computer
    see moresee less
    antonyms:
    close
    cause a window or an application to disappear on a computer desktop
    type of:
    display, exhibit, expose, showcase
    show; make visible or apparent
  29. verb
    start to operate or function or cause to start operating or functioning
    open a business”
    synonyms: open up
    see moresee less
    antonyms:
    close
    cease to operate or cause to cease operating
    types:
    establish, found, launch, set up
    set up or found
  30. verb
    begin or set in action, of meetings, speeches, recitals, etc.
    “He opened the meeting with a long speech”
    see moresee less
    antonyms:
    close
    finish or terminate (meetings, speeches, etc.)
    types:
    inaugurate
    open ceremoniously or dedicate formally
    call to order
    open formally
    type of:
    commence, embark on, start, start up
    get off the ground
  31. verb
    make the opening move
    “Kasparov opened with a standard opening”
    see moresee less
    type of:
    go, move
    have a turn; make one's move in a game
  32. noun
    a tournament in which both professionals and amateurs may play
    see moresee less
    type of:
    tournament, tourney
    a sporting competition in which contestants play a series of games to decide the winner
  33. noun
    information that has become public
    “all the reports were out in the open
    synonyms: surface
    see moresee less
    type of:
    general knowledge, public knowledge
    knowledge that is available to anyone
  34. adjective
    possibly accepting or permitting
    open to interpretation”
    “an issue open to question”
    synonyms: capable, subject
    susceptible
    (often followed by `of' or `to') yielding readily to or capable of
  35. adjective
    not brought to a conclusion; subject to further thought
    “an open question”
    synonyms: undecided, undetermined, unresolved
    unsettled
    still in doubt
  36. adjective
    not having been filled
    “the job is still open
    synonyms:
    available
    obtainable or accessible and ready for use or service
Pronunciation
US

/ˈoʊpən/

UK

/ˈʌʊpɛn/

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