open Meaning & Definition
What Does Open Mean?
Open is used as an adjective meaning Physically unobstructed, uncovered, etc. Able to have something pass through or along it. It is also used to mean Able to have something pass through or along it. As a verb, it means To make or become physically unobstructed, uncovered, etc. To make or become accessible or clear for passage by moving from a shut position. As a noun, it means Open or unobstructed space; an exposed location.
Word Facts for Open
| Part of speech | adjective, verb, noun |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | //ˈəʊ.pən// |
| Syllables | 1 |
| Synonyms | conspicuous, candid and free |
| Antonyms | close, fold and shut |
| Plural | opens |
| Comparative / superlative | more open, most open |
| Verb forms | opens, opening, opened |
Open Definition (Adjective)
- Physically unobstructed, uncovered, etc.
Able to have something pass through or along it.
Come in – the door's open.
- Able to have something pass through or along it.
Come in – the door's open.
- Not covered, sealed, etc.; having an opening or aperture showing what is inside.
The jewellery box was lying open.
- Not physically drawn together, folded or contracted.
She greeted them with open arms.
- Of a space, free of objects and obstructions.
It was a large, open room.
- Resulting from an incision, puncture or any other process by which the skin no longer protects an internal part of the body.
an open fracture
- Unlocked or unlatched but not physically open.
- In a position allowing fluid to flow.
- Of a sandwich, etc.: composed of a single slice of bread with a topping.
open sandwich
- 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.
an open winter
- Able to be used or interacted with in some way.
Available for use or operation.
Your bank account is now open.
- Available for use or operation.
Your bank account is now open.
- Actively conducting or prepared to conduct business.
Banks are not open on bank holidays.
- Allowing entrance to visitors or the public.
I hereby declare this fete open.
- Receptive.
I am open to new ideas.
- Susceptible or vulnerable (to the stated means).
open to question; open to attack; open to criticism
- In current use; connected to as a resource.
I couldn't save my changes because another user had the same file open.
- Running.
You're getting short of memory because you have too many apps open.
- Not hidden or restricted.
Not concealed; overt.
It is a blatant example of open criminality.
- Not concealed; overt.
It is a blatant example of open criminality.
- Of a person, not concealing their feelings, opinions, etc.; candid, ingenuous.
Nowadays people are more open about their sexuality.
- Public.
He published an open letter to the governor on a full page of The New York Times.
- 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.
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.
- With open access, of open science, or both.
We hope that all aspects of the project will be open rather than paywalled.
- Made public, usable with a free licence and without proprietary components.
- Of a tournament or competition, allowing anyone to enter, especially or originally irrespective of professional or amateur status.
- Characterised by free-flowing play.
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.
an open question
- Not settled; not decided or determined; not withdrawn from consideration.
an open question
- Not fulfilled or resolved; incomplete.
I've got open orders for as many containers of red durum as you can get me.
- Not having one end joined to the other; not forming a closed loop.
an open curve, an open circuit
- In a position such that a circuit is not completed, preventing electricity from flowing.
- Having different first and last vertices.
- Ending in a vowel; not having a coda.
- Having a free variable.
- Which is part of a predefined collection of subsets of X, that defines a topological space on X.
- 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.
- 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.(Can we add an example for this sense?)
- 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.
- Of a club, bat or other hitting implement, angled upwards and/or (for a right-hander) clockwise of straight.
Open as a Verb
- To make or become physically unobstructed, uncovered, etc.
To make or become accessible or clear for passage by moving from a shut position.
Turn the doorknob to open the door.
- To make or become accessible or clear for passage by moving from a shut position.
Turn the doorknob to open the door.
- To make or become clear by removal of objects and obstructions, so as to allow passage, access, or visibility.
The icebreaker opened the channel.
- To unseal or uncover, or become unsealed or uncovered.
You can open your eyes now!
- To spread; to expand into a wider or looser position.
to open a closed fist
- To make (a bed) ready for a patient by folding back the bedcovers.
- To reveal one's hand.
Jeff opens his hand revealing a straight flush.
- To move to a position allowing fluid to flow.
- To angle (a club, bat or other hitting implement) upwards and/or (for a right-hander) clockwise of straight.
- To cause or allow a gap to form or widen.
Mudchester Rovers opened a sizeable lead on their rivals.
- To move to a position preventing electricity from flowing.
- To make or become available for use or interaction.
To make or become operative or available.
He opened a secret bank account in Switzerland.
- To make or become operative or available.
He opened a secret bank account in Switzerland.
- To make or become accessible to customers, clients or visitors.
I will open the shop an hour early tomorrow.
- To make or become receptive or susceptible (to something).
Reading this book will open you to new ideas.
- To connect to a resource (a file, document, etc.) for viewing or editing.
I can't open the file because someone else is editing it.
- To turn on; to switch on.
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.
The show was opened by a terrible Elvis impersonator.
- To start (an event or activity) as the first performer or actor.
The show was opened by a terrible Elvis impersonator.
- To precede another as a performer at a concert or show.
Our band opened for Nirvana.
- Of an event, activity etc., to start or get underway.
The meeting opened with a statement from the chairman.
- To bring up, broach.
I don't want to open that subject.
- To enter upon, begin.
to open a discussion
- To start running (a program or application, especially one with a screen-based interface).
Click this icon to open Microsoft Word.
- To begin a side's innings as one of the first two batsmen.
- To bet before any other player has in a particular betting round in a game of poker.
After the first two players fold, Julie opens for $5.
- To make an open relationship or marriage, i.e., with possible additional relationships.
- To disclose; to reveal; to interpret; to explain.
Open as a Noun
- Open or unobstructed space; an exposed location.
I can't believe you left the lawnmower out in the open when you knew it was going to rain this afternoon!
- Public knowledge or scrutiny; full view.
We have got to bring this company's corrupt business practices into the open.
- A defect in an electrical circuit preventing current from flowing.
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.
the Australian Open
- The act of something being opened, such as an e-mail message.
Adjective
- Not closed
- Not physically drawn together, closed, folded or contracted; extended
an open hand; an open flower
- Candid, ingenuous, not subtle in character.
The man is an open book.
- (of a formula) Having a free variable.
- (of a set) Which is part of a predefined collection of subsets of X, that defines a topological space on X.
- (of a walk) Whose first and last vertices are different.
- (of a file, document, etc.) In current use; mapped to part of memory.
I couldn't save my changes because another user had the same file open.
- Not fulfilled.
I've got open orders for as many containers of red durum as you can get me.
- Not settled or adjusted; not decided or determined; not closed or withdrawn from consideration.
an open question
- (stringed instruments) Of a note, played without pressing the string against the fingerboard.
- (wind instruments) Of a note, played without closing any finger-hole, key or valve.
- (Of correspondence) 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. (Opposite of "without prejudice")
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.
- (of a syllable) That ends in a vowel; not having a coda.
Verb
- To make something accessible or allow for passage by moving from a shut position.
Turn the doorknob to open the door.
- To make (an open space, etc.) by clearing away an obstacle or obstacles, in order to allow for passage, access, or visibility.
He opened a path through the undergrowth.
- To spread; to expand into an open or loose position.
to open a closed fist
- To make accessible to customers or clients.
I will open the shop an hour early tomorrow.
- To start (a campaign).
Vermont will open elk hunting season next week.
- To become open.
The door opened all by itself.
- To begin conducting business.
The shop opens at 9:00.
- (of a file, document, etc.) To load into memory for viewing or editing.
Noun
- (with the) Open or unobstructed space; an exposed location.
I can't believe you left the lawnmower out in the open when you knew it was going to rain this afternoon!
- (with the) Public knowledge or scrutiny; full view.
We have got to bring this company's corrupt business practices into the open.
- A sports event in which anybody can compete
the Australian Open
Synonyms of Open
Antonyms of Open
Open in a Sentence
Come in – the door's open.
The ice has cleared and the channel is open again.
The jewellery box was lying open.
Don't just stand there with your mouth open!
Along the street ran an open sewer.
She greeted them with open arms.
The book was open at page 23.
an open hand; an open flower; an open (loosely woven) fabric
It was a large, open room.
Most of the site was occupied by huts, but there was an open area in the centre.
Soon we left the forest behind and we were out in open country.
an open fracture
open sandwich
an open winter
Your bank account is now open.
Phone lines open at 10 pm.
This is the only option open to us.
Banks are not open on bank holidays.
I hereby declare this fete open.
The school has an open day on Saturday.
I am open to new ideas.
open to question; open to attack; open to criticism
I couldn't save my changes because another user had the same file open.
You're getting short of memory because you have too many apps open.
It is a blatant example of open criminality.
Nowadays people are more open about their sexuality.
He published an open letter to the governor on a full page of The New York Times.
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.
We hope that all aspects of the project will be open rather than paywalled.
Compared to their last match, which was a dour and defensive affair, this was a very open game.
an open question
to keep an offer or opportunity open
I've got open orders for as many containers of red durum as you can get me.
an open curve, an open circuit
Turn the doorknob to open the door.
The door opened all by itself.
The icebreaker opened the channel.
The ice melted away and the channel opened.
He opened a path through the undergrowth.
After we left the forest, the country opened into a wide, flat plain.
You can open your eyes now!
Her eyes opened wide.
to open a closed fist
to open matted cotton by separating the fibres
to open a map, book, scroll, padlock
The flower opened in the sunlight.
Her arms opened in welcome.
Jeff opens his hand revealing a straight flush.
Mudchester Rovers opened a sizeable lead on their rivals.
A link opened under the strain, and the chain came apart.
He opened a secret bank account in Switzerland.
We're opening the phone lines in ten minutes.
Phone lines will open in ten minutes.
I will open the shop an hour early tomorrow.
The summer fete was opened by the mayor.
The shop opens at 9:00.
The fete opened an hour late because of bad weather.
Reading this book will open you to new ideas.
This policy will open the government to criticism.
As he grew older, he opened to new ways of doing things.
I can't open the file because someone else is editing it.
Please open the lights, the (electric) fan, the TV.
The show was opened by a terrible Elvis impersonator.
Our band opened, and they came on second.
Vermont will open elk hunting season next week.
Our band opened for Nirvana.
The meeting opened with a statement from the chairman.
I don't want to open that subject.
to open a discussion
to open fire upon an enemy
to open trade, or correspondence
to open a case in court, or a meeting
Click this icon to open Microsoft Word.
After the first two players fold, Julie opens for $5.
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.
We have got to bring this company's corrupt business practices into the open.
The electrician found the open in the circuit after a few minutes of testing.
the Australian Open
an open hand; an open flower
He published an open letter to the governor on a full page of the New York Times.
The man is an open book.
Word Forms & Grammar
open (comparative more open or (phonetics) opener, superlative most open or (phonetics) openest)
open (third-person singular simple present opens, present participle opening, simple past and past participle opened)
open (plural opens)
Words That Rhyme With Open
Origin of Open
Origin 1: Adjective from Middle English open, from Old English open (“open”), from Proto-West Germanic *opan, from Proto-Germanic *upanaz (“open”), from Proto-Indo-European *upo (“up from under, over”).
Origin 2: Verb from Middle English openen, from Old English openian (“to open”), from Proto-West Germanic *opanōn, from Proto-Germanic *upanōną (“to raise; lift; open”), from Proto-Germanic *upanaz (“open”, adjective). Cognate with Saterland Frisian eepenje (“to open”), West Frisian iepenje (“to open”), Dutch openen (“to open”), German öffnen (“to open”), Danish åbne (“to open”), Swedish öppna (“to open”), Norwegian Bokmål åpne (“to open”), Norwegian Nynorsk and Icelandic opna (“to open”). Related to English up.
Origin 3: Noun from Middle English open (“an aperture or opening”), from the verb. In the sports sense, however, a shortening of “open competition”.
Open Pronunciation
You say open as //ˈəʊ.pən//. It has 1 syllable.
Frequently Asked Questions About Open
Is open an adjective or a verb?
Open is mainly used as an adjective, but it can also be used as a verb and a noun.
What is another word for open?
Close synonyms of open are conspicuous, candid and free. See the full list of open synonyms and antonyms.
What is the plural of open?
The plural of open is opens.
What is the past tense of open?
The past tense of open is opened. The present participle is opening.
More About Open On Meaning Stash
Open In Our Articles
More Words Starting With “Ope”
- open-air
- open-and-shut
- open-book
- open-cast
- open-chain
- open-ended
- open-eyed
- open-faced
- open-handed
- open-hearted