Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Not closed, fastened, or sealed: Allowing access, passage, or view; not shut or blocked.
   • Available for business or service: Ready to receive customers or visitors.
   • Not covered or enclosed: Exposed to the air or elements; lacking a roof or lid.
   • Public and not secret: Conducted or visible to all; not hidden or restricted.
   • Receptive and willing: Ready to consider new ideas or arguments; not prejudiced.
   • Not finally decided or settled: Still subject to discussion, change, or further thought.
   • Spread out or unfolded: Not closed or folded together.

2. Verb:

   • To move something so it is no longer closed: To cause a door, window, lid, etc., to change from a closed to an open position.
   • To become open: For something to change from a closed to an open state.
   • To start or begin: To initiate an event, activity, or operation.
   • To make accessible or available: To remove restrictions or barriers to entry, use, or participation.
   • To reveal or disclose: To make something known or visible.

3. Noun:

   • A clear or unobstructed space: An area of land, sky, or water that is not enclosed or built upon.
   • A public or unconcealed state: A condition where information or events are known to all.
   • A competition accessible to all: A tournament where participation is not restricted to a specific group.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:

  • Please leave the window open. (Not closed)
  • The store is open from 9 AM to 6 PM. (Available for business)
  • We slept under the open sky. (Not covered)
  • The meeting was an open discussion. (Public, not secret)
  • She has an open mind about the proposal. (Receptive)
  • That question is still open for debate. (Not finally decided)

• Verb:

  • Could you open the door? (Cause to be not closed)
  • The door opened slowly. (Became not closed)
  • The mayor will open the new library tomorrow. (Start, begin)
  • The new policy opens the program to more applicants. (Makes accessible)
  • The investigation opened old wounds. (Revealed, disclosed)

• Noun:

  • The cattle grazed on the open. (Clear, unobstructed space)
  • The scandal is now out in the open. (Public knowledge)
  • He won his first major open. (Tournament)

Advanced Usage

• "to be open to something": To be willing to consider or accept something; to be vulnerable to something.

  • I am open to suggestions. (Willing to consider)
  • The system is open to abuse. (Vulnerable to)

• "with open arms": With great warmth, enthusiasm, or welcome.

  • They welcomed the refugees with open arms.

• "in the open": Outside; in the outdoors; or in a state of being publicly known.

  • The children love to play in the open. (Outdoors)
  • Their feud is now in the open. (Publicly known)

Variants and Related Words

• Opener (n): A tool for opening containers; the first event or item in a series.
  • a bottle opener
• Opening (n/adj): An act of becoming open; a gap or hole; a beginning; a job vacancy. As an adjective, it means first or initial.
  • an opening in the fence (n)
  • the opening ceremony (adj)
• Openly (adv): Without concealment; publicly.
  • He openly criticized the plan.
• Openness (n): The quality of being open, receptive, or transparent.

Synonyms

• Adjective: Unclosed, accessible, available, exposed, public, receptive, undecided.
• Verb: Unlock, unfasten, uncover, start, launch, inaugurate, disclose.
• Noun: Outdoors, clear, public.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Open up:
  • To become more communicative or emotionally accessible.

    • It took time for him to open up about his feelings.
  • To make something available or accessible.

    • The new highway opened up the region to trade.
  • To unlock and open a door.

    • Open up! It's the police!
• Open onto/into: To lead directly to or provide access to another space.
  • The kitchen opens onto a small garden.

Related Idioms

• Keep one's eyes open: To be watchful or alert.
  • Keep your eyes open for any suspicious activity.
• Open secret: Something that is supposedly secret but is actually widely known.
  • Their relationship is an open secret in the office.
• Open-and-shut case: A legal case or matter that is easily decided because the facts are very clear.
  • The evidence made it an open-and-shut case.
• Open the door to: To create an opportunity for something.
  • The treaty opened the door to increased cooperation.

Adjective

1. ready for business
   • the stores are open
2. openly straightforward and direct without reserve or secretiveness
   • his candid eyes
   • an open and trusting nature
   • a heart-to-heart talk
3. affording free passage or view
   • a clear view
   • a clear path to victory
   • open waters
   • the open countryside
4. possibly accepting or permitting
   • a passage capable of misinterpretation
   • open to interpretation
   • an issue open to question
   • the time is fixed by the director and players and therefore subject to much variation
5. not requiring union membership
   • an open shop employs nonunion workers
6. open and observable; not secret or hidden
   • an overt lie
   • overt hostility
   • overt intelligence gathering
   • open ballots
7. ready or willing to receive favorably
   • receptive to the proposals
8. without undue constriction as from e.g. tenseness or inhibition
   • the clarity and resonance of an open tone
   • her natural and open response
9. not sealed or having been unsealed
   • the letter was already open
   • the opened package lay on the table
10. not brought to a conclusion; subject to further thought
    • an open question
    • our position on this bill is still undecided
    • our lawsuit is still undetermined
11. (set theory) of an interval that contains neither of its endpoints
12. having no protecting cover or enclosure
    • an open boat
    • an open fire
    • open sports cars
13. (of textures) full of small openings or gaps
    • an open texture
    • a loose weave
14. not defended or capable of being defended
    • an open city
    • open to attack
15. accessible to all
    • open season
    • an open economy
16. not having been filled
    • the job is still open
17. used of mouth or eyes
    • keep your eyes open
    • his mouth slightly opened
18. open to or in view of all
    • an open protest
    • an open letter to the editor
19. with no protection or shield
    • the exposed northeast frontier
    • open to the weather
    • an open wound
20. affording free passage or access
    • open drains
    • the road is open to traffic
    • open ranks
21. affording unobstructed entrance and exit; not shut or closed
    • an open door
    • they left the door open

Verb

1. display the contents of a file or start an application as on a computer
2. afford access to
   • the door opens to the patio
   • The French doors give onto a terrace
3. make the opening move
   • Kasparov opened with a standard opening
4. have an opening or passage or outlet
   • The bedrooms open into the hall
5. become available
   • an opportunity opened up
6. make available
   • This opens up new possibilities
7. spread out or open from a closed or folded state
   • open the map
   • spread your arms
8. begin or set in action, of meetings, speeches, recitals, etc.
   • He opened the meeting with a long speech
9. become open
   • The door opened
10. start to operate or function or cause to start operating or functioning
    • open a business
11. cause to open or to become open
    • Mary opened the car door

Noun

1. information that has become public
   • all the reports were out in the open
   • the facts had been brought to the surface
2. a tournament in which both professionals and amateurs may play
3. where the air is unconfined
   • he wanted to get outdoors a little
   • the concert was held in the open air
   • camping in the open
4. a clear or unobstructed space or expanse of land or water
   • finally broke out of the forest into the open