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- DictionaryO·pen/ˈōp(ə)n/
adjective
- 1. allowing access, passage, or a view through an empty space; not closed or blocked up: "the pass is kept open all year by snowplows" Similar not shutnot closedunlockedunboltedunlatchedoff the latchunfastenedunbarredunsecuredajarwide openagapegapingyawningOpposite shutclosed
- ▪ (of a container) not fastened or sealed: "the case burst open and its contents flew all over the place"
- ▪ (of a garment or its fasteners) not buttoned or fastened: "his tie was knotted below the open collar of his shirt" Similar unfastenednot done upundoneunbuttonedunzippedlooseunbuckleduntiedunlaced
- ▪ (of the mouth or eyes) with lips or lids parted: "his eyes were open but he could see nothing"
- ▪ (of a fabric) loosely knitted or woven.
- ▪ (of the bowels) not constipated.
- 2. exposed to the air or to view; not covered: "an open fire burned in the grate"
- ▪ (of an area of land) not covered with buildings or trees: "increasing numbers of new houses in open countryside" Similar unenclosedrollingsweepingextensivewidewide openbroadunfencedexposedunshelteredspaciousairyuncrowdedunclutteredundevelopedunbuilt-upOpposite enclosedbuilt-updeveloped
- ▪ (of a team member in a game) unguarded and therefore able to receive a pass: US "the trick is spreading the defense so that at least one receiver gets open"
- ▪ damaged or injured by a deep cut in the surface: "he had his arm slashed open"
- ▪ likely to suffer from or be affected by; vulnerable or subject to: "the system is open to abuse"
- ▪ (of a goal or other object of attack in a game) unprotected; vulnerable.
- ▪ (of a town or city) officially declared to be undefended, and so immune under international law from bombardment.
- 3. with the outer edges or sides drawn away from each other; unfolded: "the trees had buds and a few open flowers" Similar spread outunfoldedunfurledunrolledstraightened outextendedstretched outOpposite closedput away
- ▪ (of a book or file) with the covers parted or the contents in view, allowing it to be read: "she was copying verses from an open Bible"
- ▪ (of a hand) not clenched into a fist.
- 4. (of a store, place of entertainment, etc.) officially admitting customers or visitors; available for business: "the store stays open until 9 p.m." Similar open for businessopen to the publicOpposite shutclosed
- ▪ (of a bank account) available for transactions: "the minimum required to keep the account open"
- ▪ (of a phone line) ready to take calls: "our free advice line is open from 8:30 to 5:30"
- 5. freely available or accessible; offered without restriction: "the service is open to all students at the university" Similar availableaccessibleon handobtainableon offer
- ▪ (of a choice, offer, or opportunity) still available; such that people can take advantage of it: "the offer is open while supplies last"
- ▪ with no restrictions on those allowed to attend or participate: "each horse had won two open races" Similar publicgeneralunrestrictednonexclusiveaccessible to everyonenonrestrictiveOpposite private
- ▪ (of a ticket) not restricted as to day of travel: "I have an open ticket, so I can travel any day I like"
- ▪ (of a set) not containing any of its limit points.
- 6. (of a person) frank and communicative; not given to deception or concealment: "I was quite open about my views" Similar frankcandidhonestforthrightdirectunreservedbluntplain-spokenoutspokenfree-spokendownrightnot afraid to call a spade a spadestraightforwardgenuinenaturalingenuousinnocentartlesstransparentguilelesssimplecommunicativeforthcominguninhibitedinformal:upfrontarchaic:roundOpposite secretivedeepdevious
- ▪ not concealed; manifest: "his eyes showed open admiration" Similar overtobviouspatentmanifestpalpableconspicuousplainundisguisedunconcealedunhiddenclearnoticeablevisibleapparentevidentblatantflagrantbarefacedbrazenOpposite concealed
- ▪ (of conflict) fully developed and unconcealed: "the dispute erupted into open war"
- ▪ involving no concealment, restraint, or deception; welcoming discussion, criticism, and inquiry: "the conclusions were reached in open discussion" Similar publicgeneralunrestrictednonexclusiveaccessible to everyonenonrestrictiveOpposite private
- ▪ (of a game or style of play) characterized by action which is spread out over the field: "both sides played fast, open rugby to produce a high-scoring game"
- 7. (of a question, case, or decision) not finally settled; still admitting of debate: "students' choice of major can be kept open until the second year" Similar unresolvednot yet settledyet to be settledundecidedunsettledup in the airopen to debateopen for discussionarguabledebatablemootOpposite decidedconcluded
- ▪ (of the mind) accessible to new ideas; unprejudiced: "I'm keeping an open mind about my future" Similar impartialunbiasedunprejudicedobjectivedisinteresteduncommittednonpartisannondiscriminatoryneutraldispassionatedetachedOpposite biased
- ▪ receptive to: "the union was open to suggestions for improvements" Similar receptiveamenablewilling/ready/disposed to listenresponsive
- ▪ admitting of; making possible: "the message is open to different interpretations"
- 8. (of a string) allowed to vibrate along its whole length.
- ▪ (of a note) sounded from an open string or pipe.
- ▪ (of a pipe) unstopped at each end.
- 9. (of a vowel) produced with a relatively wide opening of the mouth and the tongue kept low.
- ▪ (of a syllable) ending in a vowel.
- 10. (of an electrical circuit) having a break in the conducting path.
verb
- 1. move or adjust (a door or window) so as to leave a space allowing access and view: "she opened the door and went in" Similar unfastenunlatchunlockunboltunbarunclickthrow wideOpposite closeshut
- ▪ (of a door or window) be moved or adjusted to leave a space allowing access and view: "the door opened and a man came out"
- ▪ undo or remove the lid, cover, or fastening of (a container, package, letter, etc.) to get access to the contents: "he opened a bottle inexpertly, spilling some of the wine" Similar unwrapundountieunsealuncorkbroachcrack (open)
- ▪ part the lips or lids of (a mouth or eye): "she opened her mouth to argue"
- ▪ (of the mouth or eyes) have the lips or lids parted: "her eyes slowly opened"
- ▪ come apart; lose or lack its protective covering: "old wounds opened and I bled a little bit"
- ▪ improve or make possible access to or passage through: "the president announced that his government would open the border"
- ▪ cause evacuation of (the bowels).
- ▪ (of a panorama) come into view; spread out before someone: "stop to marvel at the views that open out below"
- ▪ achieve a clear view of (a place) by sailing past a headland or other obstruction: "we shall open Simon's Bay at any minute now"
- 2. unfold or be unfolded; spread out: "the eagle opened its wings and circled up into the air" Similar spread outunfoldunfurlunrollstraighten outextendstretch outOpposite closefold up
- ▪ part the covers or display the contents of (a book or file) to read it: "she opened her book at the prologue"
- 3. make officially ready for customers, visitors, or business: "one woman raised $731 by opening her home and selling coffee and tea"
- ▪ be made ready for customers, visitors, or business: "the mall didn't open until 10"
- ▪ officially or ceremonially declare (a building, road, etc.) to be completed and ready for use: "we will have to wait until a new bypass is opened before we can tackle the problem of congestion"
- 4. formally establish or begin (a new business or enterprise): "she began to teach and opened her own school"
- ▪ (of an event or a new business or enterprise) be formally established or started: "two new restaurants open this week" Similar start tradingopen for businessbe ready for customers/visitorsadmit customersbegin businessset up shopput up one's plateinformal:hang out one's shinglebeginstartinitiateset in motionlaunchget goingget under waystart/get/set the ball rollingget off the groundinaugurateinformal:kick offget the show on the roadformal:commenceOpposite endfinish
- ▪ take the action required to begin using: "they have the £10 necessary to open a savings account"
- 5. make (something) present, available, or accessible: "a civil war there has opened the possibility of a peace treaty with the Federation"
- 6. (of a piece of writing or music) begin: "the chapter opens with a discussion of Anglo-Irish relations"
- ▪ (of a counsel in a law court) make a preliminary statement in a case before calling witnesses: "Comyn opened for the plaintiff"
- ▪ make (the first bid) in the auction: "West opened 2NT"
- 7. break the conducting path of (an electrical circuit): "the switch opens the motor circuit"
- ▪ (of an electrical circuit or device) suffer a break in its conducting path: "the problem was caused when a switch opened at the substation"
noun
- 1. outdoors, especially in an exposed or unprotected setting: "guests were sitting in the open on the terrace"
- ▪ not subject to concealment; made public: "we have never let our dislike for him come into the open"
- 2. a championship or competition with no restrictions on who may compete: "his victory in the 2003 Australian Open"
- 3. an accidental break in the conducting path for an electric current.
Word Origin Old Englishopen (adjective), openian (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch open and German offen, from the root of the adverb up.
Derivatives
- 1. openable adjective
Scrabble Points: 6
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1P
3E
1N
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