open

Plural: opens

Noun

• a clear or unobstructed space or expanse of land or water
  • "finally broke out of the forest into the open"
• where the air is unconfined
  • "the concert was held in the open air"
  • "camping in the open"
• a tournament in which both professionals and amateurs may play
• information that has become public
  • "all the reports were out in the open"
• Open or unobstructed space; an exposed location.
• Public knowledge or scrutiny; full view.
• A defect in an electrical circuit preventing current from flowing.
• A sports event in which anybody can compete, especially or originally irrespective of amateur or professional status.
• The act of something being opened, such as an e-mail message.

Verb

Verb Forms: opened, opening, opens

• To cause to become unclosed, unobstructed, or accessible.
• cause to open or to become open
  • "Mary opened the car door"
• start to operate or function or cause to start operating or functioning
  • "open a business"
• become open
  • "The door opened"
• begin or set in action, of meetings, speeches, recitals, etc.
  • "He opened the meeting with a long speech"
• spread out or open from a closed or folded state
  • "open the map"
• make available
  • "This opens up new possibilities"
• become available
  • "an opportunity opened up"
• have an opening or passage or outlet
  • "The bedrooms open into the hall"
• make the opening move
  • "Kasparov opened with a standard opening"
• afford access to
  • "the door opens to the patio"
• display the contents of a file or start an application as on a computer
• To make or become physically unobstructed, uncovered, etc.
• To make or become accessible or clear for passage by moving from a shut position.
• 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.
• To make or become physically unobstructed, uncovered, etc.
• To unseal or uncover, or become unsealed or uncovered.
• To make or become physically unobstructed, uncovered, etc.
• To spread; to expand into a wider or looser position.
• To make or become physically unobstructed, uncovered, etc.
• To make (a bed) ready for a patient by folding back the bedcovers.
• To make or become physically unobstructed, uncovered, etc.
• To reveal one's hand.
• To make or become physically unobstructed, uncovered, etc.
• To move to a position allowing fluid to flow.
• 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.
• To cause or allow a gap to form or widen.
• To cause or allow a gap to form or widen.
• 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.
• To make or become available for use or interaction.
• To make or become accessible to customers, clients or visitors.
• To make or become available for use or interaction.
• To make or become receptive or susceptible (to something).
• To make or become available for use or interaction.
• To connect to a resource (a file, document, etc.) for viewing or editing.
• To make or become available for use or interaction.
• To turn on; to switch on.
• To start or begin.
• To start (an event or activity) as the first performer or actor.
• To start or begin.
• To precede another as a performer at a concert or show.
• To start or begin.
• Of an event, activity etc., to start or get underway.
• To start or begin.
• To bring up, broach.
• To start or begin.
• To enter upon, begin.
• To start or begin.
• To start running (a program or application, especially one with a screen-based interface).
• To start or begin.
• To begin a side's innings as one of the first two batsmen.
• To start or begin.
• To bet before any other player has in a particular betting round in a game of poker.
• To make an open relationship or marriage, i.e., with possible additional relationships.
• To disclose; to reveal; to interpret; to explain.

Adjective

• Not closed or obstructed; accessible; available to all.
• affording unobstructed entrance and exit; not shut or closed
  • "an open door"
  • "they left the door open"
• affording free passage or access
  • "open drains"
  • "the road is open to traffic"
  • "open ranks"
• used of mouth or eyes
  • "keep your eyes open"
  • "his mouth slightly opened"
• (set theory) of an interval that contains neither of its endpoints
• ready or willing to receive favorably
• open and observable; not secret or hidden
  • "open ballots"

Adjective Satellite

• with no protection or shield
  • "open to the weather"
  • "an open wound"
• open to or in view of all
  • "an open protest"
  • "an open letter to the editor"
• not having been filled
  • "the job is still open"
• accessible to all
  • "open season"
  • "an open economy"
• not defended or capable of being defended
  • "an open city"
  • "open to attack"
• (of textures) full of small openings or gaps
  • "an open texture"
• having no protecting cover or enclosure
  • "an open boat"
  • "an open fire"
  • "open sports cars"
• not brought to a conclusion; subject to further thought
  • "an open question"
• not sealed or having been unsealed
  • "the letter was already open"
  • "the opened package lay on the table"
• without undue constriction as from e.g. tenseness or inhibition
  • "the clarity and resonance of an open tone"
  • "her natural and open response"
• not requiring union membership
  • "an open shop employs nonunion workers"
• possibly accepting or permitting
  • "open to interpretation"
  • "an issue open to question"
• affording free passage or view
  • "open waters"
  • "the open countryside"
• openly straightforward and direct without reserve or secretiveness
  • "an open and trusting nature"
• ready for business
  • "the stores are open"

Adj

• Physically unobstructed, uncovered, etc.
• Able to have something pass through or along it.
• Physically unobstructed, uncovered, etc.
• Not covered, sealed, etc.; having an opening or aperture showing what is inside.
• Physically unobstructed, uncovered, etc.
• Not physically drawn together, folded or contracted.
• Physically unobstructed, uncovered, etc.
• Of a space, free of objects and obstructions.
• 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.
• Physically unobstructed, uncovered, etc.
• Unlocked or unlatched but not physically open.
• Physically unobstructed, uncovered, etc.
• In a position allowing fluid to flow.
• Physically unobstructed, uncovered, etc.
• Composed of a single slice of bread with a topping.
• 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.
• Able to be used or interacted with in some way.
• Available for use or operation.
• Able to be used or interacted with in some way.
• Actively conducting or prepared to conduct business.
• Able to be used or interacted with in some way.
• Allowing entrance to visitors or the public.
• Able to be used or interacted with in some way.
• Receptive.
• Able to be used or interacted with in some way.
• Susceptible or vulnerable (to the stated means).
• Able to be used or interacted with in some way.
• In current use; connected to as a resource.
• Able to be used or interacted with in some way.
• Running.
• Not hidden or restricted.
• Not concealed; overt.
• Not hidden or restricted.
• Of a person, not concealing their feelings, opinions, etc.; candid, ingenuous.
• Not hidden or restricted.
• Public.
• 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.
• Not hidden or restricted.
• With open access, of open science, or both.
• Not hidden or restricted.
• Made public, usable with a free licence and without proprietary components.
• 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.
• Not completed or finalised.
• Not settled; not decided or determined; not withdrawn from consideration.
• Not completed or finalised.
• Not fulfilled or resolved; incomplete.
• Not completed or finalised.
• Not having one end joined to the other; not forming a closed loop.
• Not completed or finalised.
• In a position such that a circuit is not completed, preventing electricity from flowing.
• Not completed or finalised.
• Having different first and last vertices.
• Not completed or finalised.
• 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.
• 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.

Examples

• A link opened under the strain, and the chain came apart.
• After the first two players fold, Julie opens for $5.
• After we left the forest, the country opened into a wide, flat plain.
• Along the street ran an open sewer.
• an open curve, an open circuit
• an open fracture
• an open hand; an open flower; an open (loosely woven) fabric
• an open question
• an open winter
• As he grew older, he opened to new ways of doing things.
• Banks are not open on bank holidays.
• Click this icon to open Microsoft Word.
• Come in – the door's open.
• Compared to their last match, which was a dour and defensive affair, this was a very open game.
• Don't just stand there with your mouth open!
• He hoped his next word would open up the board for future plays in Words With Friends.
• He opened a path through the undergrowth.
• He opened a secret bank account in Switzerland.
• He published an open letter to the governor on a full page of The New York Times.
• Her arms opened in welcome.
• Her eyes opened wide.
• I am open to new ideas.
• I can't believe you left the lawnmower out in the open when you knew it was going to rain this afternoon!
• I can't open the file because someone else is editing it.
• I couldn't save my changes because another user had the same file open.
• I don't want to open that subject.
• I hereby declare this fete open.
• I will open the shop an hour early tomorrow.
• I've got open orders for as many containers of red durum as you can get me.
• It is a blatant example of open criminality.
• It was a large, open room.
• Jeff opens his hand revealing a straight flush.
• Most of the site was occupied by huts, but there was an open area in the centre.
• Mudchester Rovers opened a sizeable lead on their rivals.
• Nowadays people are more open about their sexuality.
• open sandwich
• open to question; open to attack; open to criticism
• Our band opened for Nirvana.
• Our band opened, and they came on second.
• Phone lines open at 10 pm.
• Phone lines will open in ten minutes.
• Please open the lights, the (electric) fan, the TV.
• Reading this book will open you to new ideas.
• Several new shops have opened in Market Street.
• She greeted them with open arms.
• Soon we left the forest behind and we were out in open country.
• the Australian Open
• The board was wide open, inviting a high-scoring word.
• The book was open at page 23.
• The door opened all by itself.
• The electrician found the open in the circuit after a few minutes of testing.
• The fete opened an hour late because of bad weather.
• The flower opened in the sunlight.
• The ice has cleared and the channel is open again.
• The ice melted away and the channel opened.
• The icebreaker opened the channel.
• The jewellery box was lying open.
• The meeting opened with a statement from the chairman.
• The school has an open day on Saturday.
• The shop opens at 9:00.
• The show was opened by a terrible Elvis impersonator.
• The summer fete was opened by the mayor.
• This is the only option open to us.
• This policy will open the government to criticism.
• to keep an offer or opportunity open
• to open a case in court, or a meeting
• to open a closed fist
• to open a discussion
• to open a map, book, scroll, padlock
• to open fire upon an enemy
• to open matted cotton by separating the fibres
• to open trade, or correspondence
• Turn the doorknob to open the door.
• Vermont will open elk hunting season next week.
• 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.
• We hope that all aspects of the project will be open rather than paywalled.
• We're opening the phone lines in ten minutes.
• You can open your eyes now!
• 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.
• You're getting short of memory because you have too many apps open.
• Your bank account is now open.

Synonyms

afford, assailable, candid, capable, clear, exposed, give, heart-to-heart, loose, open air, open up, opened, out-of-doors, outdoors, overt, receptive, spread, spread out, subject, surface, undecided, undefendable, undefended, undetermined, unfastened, unfold, unresolved, accessible, bare, begin, free, open-face, open-faced, raise, reveal, start, unimpeded, unseal

Antonyms

close, closed, covert, fold, shut, unreceptive, bare, checked, closed-source, proprietary, without prejudice

Related Words

OPENABLE

Anagrams of open