open

UK /ˈəʊ.pən/ US /ˈoʊ.pən/

adj 5verb 5noun 5

Collocations

33

1

(adj.) not closed

VERBS

be, gape, lie, stand

The window stood open all night despite the cold weather outside.

burst, clang, creak, fall, fly, judder, sag, swing

The old window creaked open when she pushed it hard against the rusty hinges.

remain

fling sth, flip sth, get sth, prise sth, pull sth, push sth, tear sth, throw sth, wrench sth, yank sth

The child yanked open the stuck drawer and pulled out her favorite toy.

have sth, hold sth, keep sth, leave sth

He kept the window open to let in fresh air during the warm afternoon.

find sth, see sth

When she looked out the window, she saw the gate open in the strong wind.

ADV

fully, wide

She fully opened her eyes when she heard the loud noise outside.

slightly

2

(adj.) honest and willing to talk

VERBS

be, seem

ADV

extremely, very | absolutely, completely, quite

PREP

about

My friend is quite open about his struggles with anxiety and depression.

with

She decided to be more open with her family about her career concerns.

3

(adj.) available for people to use

VERBS

be

remain, stay

The café stayed open late so we could finish our meeting over coffee.

keep sth

She tries to keep her bedroom door open during the day so her cat can move freely between rooms.

PREP

to

The museum is open to the public every day except Monday.

4

(adj.) having begun

VERBS

be

declare sth

The mayor declared the new community center open last Saturday afternoon.

ADV

officially

The new shopping center was officially opened by the mayor last month.

5

(verb.) door, window, box, etc.

ADV

wide

The door swung wide open when the wind caught it during the storm.

slowly

gingerly

She gingerly opened the creaky door to avoid waking the sleeping children.

automatically

When you walk into the supermarket, the entrance doors open automatically.

out, up

She opened up her suitcase and started unpacking her clothes after the long trip.

VERB + OPEN

try to | manage to

fail to

The restaurant failed to open on Monday because of construction delays.

6

(verb.) building, road, etc.

ADV

formally, officially

up

The new restaurant opened up opportunities for local workers to find employment.

VERB + OPEN

be due to, be expected to, be scheduled to

The new shopping center is scheduled to open in March.

hope to, intend to, plan to, want to, wish to

PHRASES

newly/recently opened

The recently opened café on Main Street serves excellent coffee and homemade pastries.

Definitions

adj

1

Physically unobstructed, uncovered, etc.

Come in – the door's open.

The ice has cleared and the channel is open again.

2

Physically unobstructed, uncovered, etc.

The jewellery box was lying open.

Don't just stand there with your mouth open!

3

Physically unobstructed, uncovered, etc.

She greeted them with open arms.

The book was open at page 23.

4

Physically unobstructed, uncovered, etc.

It was a large, open room.

Most of the site was occupied by huts, but there was an open area in the centre.

5

Physically unobstructed, uncovered, etc.

an open fracture

verb

1

To make or become physically unobstructed, uncovered, etc.

Turn the doorknob to open the door.

The door opened all by itself.

2

To make or become physically unobstructed, uncovered, etc.

The icebreaker opened the channel.

The ice melted away and the channel opened.

3

To make or become physically unobstructed, uncovered, etc.

You can open your eyes now!

Her eyes opened wide.

4

To make or become physically unobstructed, uncovered, etc.

to open a closed fist

to open matted cotton by separating the fibres

5

To make or become physically unobstructed, uncovered, etc.

Follow agency policy, or open the bed by folding the top linens back.

noun

1

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!

Wary of hunters, the fleeing deer kept well out of the open, dodging instead from thicket to thicket.

2

Public knowledge or scrutiny; full view.

We have got to bring this company's corrupt business practices into the open.

3

A defect in an electrical circuit preventing current from flowing.

The electrician found the open in the circuit after a few minutes of testing.

4

A sports event in which anybody can compete, especially or originally irrespective of amateur or professional status.

the Australian Open

5

The act of something being opened, such as an e-mail message.

The total number of opens from original, or unique, subscribers.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

noun — information that has become public

surface

noun — where the air is unconfined

noun — a clear or unobstructed space or expanse of land or water

clear

verb — spread out or open from a closed or folded state

verb — afford access to

adjective — openly straightforward and direct without reserve or secreti

adjective — affording free passage or view

clear

adjective — affording unobstructed entrance and exit

unfastened

adjective — used of mouth or eyes

opened

adjective — open and observable

overt

adjective — with no protection or shield

exposed

adjective — ready or willing to receive favorably

receptive

adjective — not sealed or having been unsealed

opened

adjective — not brought to a conclusion

undecided
undetermined
unresolved

adjective — (of textures) full of small openings or gaps

loose

adjective — possibly accepting or permitting

adjective — not defended or capable of being defended

assailable
undefendable
undefended

Antonyms

Idioms & Phrases

wide open

Completely open.

The front door was wide open.

open a can of whoop ass

A good-humored threat of physical harm.

I'm gonna open up a can of whoop-ass on ya.

keep a weather eye open

to maintain a background awareness of something; to remain alert to changes without it occupying one's full attention.

For quotations using this term, see Citations:keep a weather eye open.

open fire

To begin firing (weapons) at something or someone.

In warfare, whoever opens fire first has a greater chance of victory.

with open arms

With enthusiasm, as if embracing

Well, I've made so many new friends / With open arms they let me in / They say they'll be with me till the end / They say they'll stick through thick and thin

Example Bank

6

01

Come in – the door's open.

Wiktionary

02

The ice has cleared and the channel is open again.

Wiktionary

03

The jewellery box was lying open.

Wiktionary

04

Turn the doorknob to open the door.

Wiktionary

05

The door opened all by itself.

Wiktionary

06

I made a speaking trumpet of my hands and commenced to whoop “Ahoy!” and “Hello!” at the top of my lungs. […] The Colonel woke up, and, after asking what in brimstone was the matter, opened his mouth

Wiktionary

Usage Notes

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