open

noun

(in the definite) Open or unobstructed space; an exposed location.

(in the definite) Public knowledge or scrutiny; full view.

(electronics) 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

To make or become physically unobstructed, uncovered, etc.

(transitive, intransitive) To make or become accessible or clear for passage by moving from a shut position.

(transitive, intransitive) To make or become clear by removal of objects and obstructions, so as to allow passage, access, or visibility.

(transitive, intransitive) To unseal or uncover, or become unsealed or uncovered.

(transitive, intransitive) To spread; to expand into a wider or looser position.

(transitive, nursing) To make (a bed) ready for a patient by folding back the bedcovers.

(transitive, intransitive, poker) To reveal one's hand.

(transitive, intransitive, engineering, gas and liquid flow, of valve or damper) To move to a position allowing fluid to flow.

(especially sports, transitive, intransitive) To angle (a club, bat or other hitting implement) upwards and/or (for a right-hander) clockwise of straight.

(transitive, intransitive) To cause or allow a gap to form or widen.

(transitive, intransitive, electricity, of a switch, fuse or circuit breaker) To move to a position preventing electricity from flowing.

To make or become available for use or interaction.

(transitive, intransitive) To make or become operative or available.

(transitive, intransitive) To make or become accessible to customers, clients or visitors.

(transitive, intransitive) To make or become receptive or susceptible (to something).

(computing, transitive, intransitive) To connect to a resource (a file, document, etc.) for viewing or editing.

(Manglish, Quebec) To turn on; to switch on.

To start or begin.

(transitive or intransitive) To start (an event or activity) as the first performer or actor.

(intransitive, with 'for') To precede another as a performer at a concert or show.

(intransitive) Of an event, activity etc., to start or get underway.

(transitive) To bring up, broach.

(transitive) To enter upon, begin.

(computing, transitive, intransitive) To start running (a program or application, especially one with a screen-based interface).

(intransitive, cricket) To begin a side's innings as one of the first two batsmen.

(intransitive, poker) To bet before any other player has in a particular betting round in a game of poker.

(transitive) To make an open relationship or marriage, i.e., with possible additional relationships.

(obsolete) To disclose; to reveal; to interpret; to explain.

adjective

(usually not comparable) Physically unobstructed, uncovered, etc.

Able to have something pass through or along it.

Not covered, sealed, etc.; having an opening or aperture showing what is inside.

Not physically drawn together, folded or contracted.

Of a space, free of objects and obstructions.

(medicine) Resulting from an incision, puncture or any other process by which the skin no longer protects an internal part of the body.

(engineering, gas and liquid flow, of valve or damper) In a position allowing fluid to flow.

Of a sandwich, etc.: composed of a single slice of bread with a topping.

(now regional) 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.

(not comparable) Available for use or operation.

(not comparable) Actively conducting or prepared to conduct business.

(not comparable) Allowing entrance to visitors or the public.

(comparable) Receptive.

(comparable, with 'to') Susceptible or vulnerable (to the stated means).

(computing, not comparable, of a file, document, etc.) In current use; connected to as a resource.

(computing, of a program or application, especially one with a screen-based interface) Running.

Not hidden or restricted.

Not concealed; overt.

Of a person, not concealing their feelings, opinions, etc.; candid, ingenuous.

(not comparable) Public.

(law, 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.

(not comparable) With open access, of open science, or both.

(computing, education) Made public, usable with a free licence and without proprietary components.

(sports) Of a tournament or competition, allowing anyone to enter, especially or originally irrespective of professional or amateur status.

(sports and games) Characterised by free-flowing play.

Not completed or finalised.

Not settled; not decided or determined; not withdrawn from consideration.

(sometimes business) Not fulfilled or resolved; incomplete.

Not having one end joined to the other; not forming a closed loop.

(electricity, of a switch or circuit breaker) In a position such that a circuit is not completed, preventing electricity from flowing.

(graph theory, of a walk) Having different first and last vertices.

(phonetics, of a syllable) Ending in a vowel; not having a coda.

(mathematics, logic, of a formula) Having a free variable.

(mathematics, topology, of a set) Which is part of a predefined collection of subsets of X, that defines a topological space on X.

(music, stringed instruments) Of a note, played without pressing the string against the fingerboard.

(music) Of a note, played without closing any finger-hole, key or valve.

(phonetics, sometimes with comparative opener) Uttered with a relatively wide opening of the articulating organs; said of vowels.

(phonetics) Uttered, as a consonant, with the oral passage simply narrowed without closure.

(computing, used before "code") Source code of a computer program that is not within the text of a macro being generated.

(of a multi-word compound) 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.

(especially sports) Of a club, bat or other hitting implement, angled upwards and/or (for a right-hander) clockwise of straight.

(sometimes proscribed) Unlocked or unlatched but not physically open.

Synonyms for open

patulousadj ope unfastenedadj unsealedadj overtadj unbarv ajaradj exposedadj unfoldv receptiveadj unlockedadj gapingadj candidadj wideadj unboltv

Synonyms & related words for open

Find synonyms, related words, and the definition of open — including patulous, ope, unfastened, unsealed, overt, unbar. Dendril is a free visual thesaurus that shows them on an interactive map where stronger matches sit closer to the center — no signup, no ads.

Words related to open

Explore words related to open — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include unconstricted, unclose, patulousness, closed, unenclosed, openings, widemouthed, reopen. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Synonyms for open

Common synonyms for open include patulous, ope, unfastened, unsealed, overt, unbar, ajar, exposed — words that share a close meaning. Hover or tap any word on the map for its definition and part of speech.