unlocked

Thân thiện

The door to the garden was left unlocked.

Definition

Adjective 1. Not locked; capable of being opened because no lock is engaged: Describes a door, container, or device that is not secured with a lock and can therefore be opened freely. 2. Not fastened or secured: More broadly, describes something that is not closed off or made inaccessible by a locking mechanism.

Usage Examples

• The unlocked door swung open in the wind.
• Please do not leave your car unlocked in this neighborhood.
• The diary was left unlocked on the desk.
• An unlocked phone allows anyone to access your personal information.

Advanced Usage

• "to leave something unlocked": To fail to secure something by locking it. This often implies negligence or a deliberate choice for convenience.
  • He made the mistake of leaving the safe unlocked.
• "to find something unlocked": To discover that something is not locked, often with implications of surprise, opportunity, or vulnerability.
  • We arrived early and found the main gate unlocked.

Variants and Related Words

• Unlock (verb): To open or release the lock of something.
  • She used her key to unlock the cabinet.
• Lock (verb/noun): The act of securing or the fastening device itself. This is the direct opposite.
  • Remember to lock the windows before you leave.

Synonyms

• Unfastened: Not closed or secured.
• Unsecured: Not made safe or locked.
• Open: Allowing access; not closed or locked. (Note: "Open" is broader and can mean not shut, whereas "unlocked" specifically refers to the state of the lock.)

Antonyms

• Locked: Secured with a lock.
• Bolted: Secured with a bolt or latch.
• Secured: Made safe or fastened.

Related Phrases

• "Wide open": (Idiom) Completely open or vulnerable. An unlocked door could be described as "wide open" to intruders.
  • Leaving your password on the desk is like leaving the door wide open to hackers.
• "An open invitation": (Idiom) Something that makes an unwanted outcome very likely. An unlocked valuables cabinet could be seen as an open invitation to theft.
  • Leaving your jewelry in plain sight is an open invitation for trouble.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. not firmly fastened or secured
   • an unbarred door
   • went through the unlatched gate into the street
   • an unlocked room

Từ đồng nghĩa

• unbarred
• unbolted
• unlatched
• unsecured