Open definition

Open as an adjective

1. affording unobstructed entrance and exit; not shut or closed

   "an open door"

   Same sense: unfastened

2. affording free passage or access

   "open drains"

3. with no protection or shield

   "open to the weather"

   Same sense: exposed

4. open to or in view of all

   "an open protest"

5. used of mouth or eyes

   "keep your eyes open"

   Same sense: opened

6. not having been filled

   "the job is still open"

7. accessible to all

   "open season"

8. not defended or capable of being defended

   "an open city"

   Same sense: undefended, undefendable, assailable

9. (of textures) full of small openings or gaps

   "an open texture"

   Same sense: loose

10. having no protecting cover or enclosure

    "an open boat"

11. (set theory) of an interval that contains neither of its endpoints

12. not brought to a conclusion; subject to further thought

    "an open question"

    Same sense: unresolved, undecided, undetermined

13. not sealed or having been unsealed

    "the letter was already open"

    Same sense: opened

14. without undue constriction as from e.g. tenseness or inhibition

    "the clarity and resonance of an open tone"

15. ready or willing to receive favorably

    Same sense: receptive

16. open and observable; not secret or hidden

    "open ballots"

    Same sense: overt

17. not requiring union membership

    "an open shop employs nonunion workers"

18. possibly accepting or permitting

    "open to interpretation"

    Same sense: subject, capable

19. affording free passage or view

    "open waters"

    Same sense: clear

20. openly straightforward and direct without reserve or secretiveness

    "an open and trusting nature"

    Same sense: heart-to-heart, candid

21. ready for business

    "the stores are open"

Open as a verb

22. cause to open or to become open

    "Mary opened the car door"

    Same sense: open up

23. start to operate or function or cause to start operating or functioning

    "open a business"

    Same sense: open up

24. become open

    "The door opened"

    Same sense: open up

25. begin or set in action, of meetings, speeches, recitals, etc.

    "He opened the meeting with a long speech"

26. spread out or open from a closed or folded state

    "open the map"

    Same sense: spread, spread out, unfold

27. make available

    "This opens up new possibilities"

    Same sense: open up

28. become available

    "an opportunity opened up"

    Same sense: open up

29. have an opening or passage or outlet

    "The bedrooms open into the hall"

30. make the opening move

    "Kasparov opened with a standard opening"

31. display the contents of a file or start an application as on a computer

Open as a noun

32. a clear or unobstructed space or expanse of land or water

    "finally broke out of the forest into the open"

    Same sense: clear

33. where the air is unconfined

    "the concert was held in the open air"

    Same sense: open air, out-of-doors, outdoors

34. a tournament in which both professionals and amateurs may play

35. information that has become public

    "all the reports were out in the open"

    Same sense: surface

Synonyms and antonyms

• unfastened
• exposed
• opened
• undefended
• undefendable
• assailable
• loose
• unresolved
• undecided
• undetermined
• receptive
• overt
• subject
• capable
• clear definition
• heart-to-heart
• candid
• open up
• spread
• spread out
• unfold
• open air
• out-of-doors
• outdoors

Opposites: shut, closed, close.

All synonyms of open, sense by sense

How to say open

Open has 2 syllables and rhymes with reopen. Syllable counts and rhymes come from the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary.

Words that rhyme with open

• reopen
• copen

OPEN in word games

Scrabble

6

Words With Friends

8

Anagrams

3

Is OPEN a valid Scrabble word? Yes, it is in the ENABLE list most word games use. Check OPEN in the word checker, or unscramble OPEN to see its 3 anagrams and the shorter words in its letters.