adj · noun · verb · 104 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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Received-Pronunciation:/ˈəʊ.pən/
Received-Pronunciation:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Northumbria:/ˈɒ.pɪn/
General-American:/ˈoʊ.pən/
General-American:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Australian:/ˈəʉ.pən/
Australia:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -əʊpən
CMU ARPABET:OW1 P AH0 N
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Physically unobstructed, uncovered, etc.
Able to have something pass through or along it.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable, usually
Examples
Come in – the door's open.
The ice has cleared and the channel is open again.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adj
Meaning 2
Physically unobstructed, uncovered, etc.
Not covered, sealed, etc.; having an opening or aperture showing what is inside.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable, usually
Examples
The jewellery box was lying open.
Don't just stand there with your mouth open!
Along the street ran an open sewer.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adj
Meaning 3
Physically unobstructed, uncovered, etc.
Not physically drawn together, folded or contracted.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable, usually
Examples
She greeted them with open arms.
The book was open at page 23.
an open hand; an open flower; an open (loosely woven) fabric
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
adj
Meaning 4
Physically unobstructed, uncovered, etc.
Of a space, free of objects and obstructions.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable, usually
Examples
It was a large, open room.
Most of the site was occupied by huts, but there was an open area in the centre.
Soon we left the forest behind and we were out in open country.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
adj
Meaning 5
Physically unobstructed, uncovered, etc.
Resulting from an incision, puncture or any other process by which the skin no longer protects an internal part of the body.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable, usually
Topics: medicine, sciences
Examples
an open fracture
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
adj
Meaning 6
Physically unobstructed, uncovered, etc.
Unlocked or unlatched but not physically open.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable, proscribed, sometimes, usually
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
adj
Meaning 7
Physically unobstructed, uncovered, etc.
In a position allowing fluid to flow.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
8
adj
Meaning 8
Physically unobstructed, uncovered, etc.
Of a sandwich, etc.: composed of a single slice of bread with a topping.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable, usually
Examples
open sandwich
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: open-face, open-faced
Antonyms: none provided
9
adj
Meaning 9
Physically unobstructed, uncovered, etc.
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.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable, regional, usually
Examples
an open winter
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
10
adj
Meaning 10
Able to be used or interacted with in some way.
Available for use or operation.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable
Examples
Your bank account is now open.
Phone lines open at 10 pm.
This is the only option open to us.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
11
adj
Meaning 11
Able to be used or interacted with in some way.
Actively conducting or prepared to conduct business.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable
Examples
Banks are not open on bank holidays.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
12
adj
Meaning 12
Able to be used or interacted with in some way.
Allowing entrance to visitors or the public.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable
Examples
I hereby declare this fete open.
The school has an open day on Saturday.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
13
adj
Meaning 13
Able to be used or interacted with in some way.
Receptive.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: comparable
Examples
I am open to new ideas.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
14
adj
Meaning 14
Able to be used or interacted with in some way.
Susceptible or vulnerable (to the stated means).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: comparable
Examples
open to question; open to attack; open to criticism
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
15
adj
Meaning 15
Able to be used or interacted with in some way.
In current use; connected to as a resource.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
You're getting short of memory because you have too many apps open.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
17
adj
Meaning 17
Not hidden or restricted.
Not concealed; overt.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
It is a blatant example of open criminality.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
18
adj
Meaning 18
Not hidden or restricted.
Of a person, not concealing their feelings, opinions, etc.; candid, ingenuous.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
Nowadays people are more open about their sexuality.
1731-1735, Alexander Pope, Moral Essays with aspect open, shall erect his head
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
19
adj
Meaning 19
Not hidden or restricted.
Public.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable
Examples
He published an open letter to the governor on a full page of The New York Times.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
20
adj
Meaning 20
Not hidden or restricted.
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.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: law
Examples
You will observe that this is an open letter and we reserve the right to mention it to the judge should the matter come to trial.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
21
adj
Meaning 21
Not hidden or restricted.
With open access, of open science, or both.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable
Examples
We hope that all aspects of the project will be open rather than paywalled.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
22
adj
Meaning 22
Not hidden or restricted.
Made public, usable with a free licence and without proprietary components.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
38
adj
Meaning 38
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.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
39
adj
Meaning 39
Of a club, bat or other hitting implement, angled upwards and/or (for a right-hander) clockwise of straight.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: especially
Topics: hobbies, lifestyle, sports
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
40
noun
Meaning 40
Open or unobstructed space; an exposed location.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
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.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
41
noun
Meaning 41
Public knowledge or scrutiny; full view.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
We have got to bring this company's corrupt business practices into the open.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
42
noun
Meaning 42
A defect in an electrical circuit preventing current from flowing.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
display the contents of a file or start an application as on a computer
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: close
Broader terms: expose, exhibit, display
101
verb
Meaning 101
afford access to
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
the door opens to the patio
The French doors give onto a terrace
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: afford, give
Antonyms: none provided
102
verb
Meaning 102
begin or set in action, of meetings, speeches, recitals, etc.
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
He opened the meeting with a long speech
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: close
Broader terms: start, start up, embark on, commence
Narrower terms: inaugurate, call to order
103
verb
Meaning 103
start to operate or function or cause to start operating or functioning
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
open a business
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: open up
Antonyms: close
Narrower terms: establish, set up, found, launch
104
verb
Meaning 104
have an opening or passage or outlet
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
The bedrooms open into the hall
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
Adjective from Middle English open, from Old English open (“open”), from Proto-West Germanic *opan, from Proto-Germanic *upanaz (“open”), from Proto-Indo-European *upo (“up from under, over”). Cognates * Scots apen (“open”) * Saterland Frisian eepen (“open”) * West Frisian iepen (“open”) * Cimbrian offe (“open”) * Dutch open (“open”) * German offen (“open”) * Vilamovian ufa, uffa (“open”) * Yiddish אָפֿן (ofn, “open”) * Danish åben (“open”) * Icelandic opinn (“open”) * Norwegian Bokmål åpen (“open”) * Norwegian Nynorsk open (“open”) * Swedish öppen (“open”) Compare also Latin supinus (“on one's back, supine”), Albanian hap (“to open”). Related to up. Verb from Middle English openen, from Old English openian (“to open”), from Proto-West Germanic *opanōn, from Proto-Germanic *upanōną (“to raise; lift; open”), from Proto-Germanic *upanaz (“open”, adjective). Cognate with Saterland Frisian eepenje (“to open”), West Frisian iepenje (“to open”), Dutch openen (“to open”), German öffnen (“to open”), Danish åbne (“to open”), Swedish öppna (“to open”), Norwegian Bokmål åpne (“to open”), Norwegian Nynorsk and Icelandic opna (“to open”). Related to English up. Noun from Middle English open (“an aperture or opening”), from the verb. In the sports sense, however, a shortening of “open competition”.
Across languages
Translations
801 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Abkhaz:
аарты
(aartʼə)
— not closed
Afrikaans:
oop
— not closed
Aghwan:
𐔰𐕀𐔰𐔺
(axay)
— not closed
Western Apache:
gháʼátʼé
— not closed
Albanian:
hapur
— not closed
Arabic:
مَفْتُوح
(maftūḥ)
— not closed
Arabic:
مفتوح
(maftūḥ)
— not closed
Arabic:
مفتوح
(maftūḥ)
— not closed
Arabic:
محلول
(maḥlūl)
— not closed
Arabic:
مفتوح
(maftūḥ)
— not closed
Armenian:
բաց
(bacʻ)
— not closed
Assamese:
খোলা
(khüla)
— not closed
Asturian:
abiertu
— not closed
Avar:
рагьун буго
(rahun bugo)
— not closed
Azerbaijani:
açıq
— not closed
Bashkir:
асыҡ
(asıq)
— not closed
Basque:
ireki
— not closed
Basque:
zabal
— not closed
Belarusian:
адкры́ты
(adkrýty)
— not closed
Bengali:
খোলা
(khōla)
— not closed
Breton:
digor
— not closed
Bulgarian:
отво́рен
(otvóren)
— not closed
Bulgarian:
откри́т
(otkrít)
— not closed
Bulgarian:
разтво́рен
(raztvóren)
— not closed
Catalan:
obert
— not closed
Chechen:
dillana
— not closed
Chinese Mandarin:
開着 /开
(kāizhe)
— not closed
Cornish:
ygor
— not closed
Czech:
otevřený
— not closed
Dalmatian:
apiart
— not closed
Danish:
åben
— not closed
Dutch:
open
— not closed
Esperanto:
malfermita
— not closed
Esperanto:
aperta
— not closed
Esperanto:
malferma
— not closed
Estonian:
lahtine
— not closed
Faroese:
opin
— not closed
Finnish:
avoin
— not closed
Finnish:
avonainen
— not closed
Finnish:
auki
— not closed
French:
ouvert
— not closed
Old French:
overt
— not closed
West-Frisian:
iepen
— not closed
Friulian:
viert
— not closed
Friulian:
aviert
— not closed
Galician:
aberto
— not closed
Gallurese:
abbaltu
— not closed
Georgian:
ღია
(ɣia)
— not closed
German:
auf
— not closed
German:
offen
— not closed
German:
offe
— not closed
German:
offä
— not closed
Greek:
ανοιχτός
(anoichtós)
— not closed
Ancient Greek:
ἀνοικτός
(anoiktós)
— not closed
Hebrew:
פָּתוּחַ
(patúakh)
— not closed
Hindi:
खुला
(khulā)
— not closed
White Hmong:
qhib
— not closed
Hungarian:
nyílt
— not closed
Hungarian:
nyitott
— not closed
Icelandic:
opinn
— not closed
Indonesian:
buka
— not closed
Ingrian:
avonain
— not closed
Ingrian:
aukinain
— not closed
Irish:
oscailte
— not closed
Irish:
ar oscailt
— not closed
Italian:
aperto
— not closed
Italian:
dischiuso
— not closed
Japanese:
開いた
(aita)
— not closed
Japanese:
開けた
(aketa)
— not closed
Kaitag:
ач
(ač)
— not closed
Kazakh:
ашу
(aşu)
— not closed
Khmer:
ដែលបើក
(daelbaək)
— not closed
Khmer:
ដែលចំហរ
(dêlchâmhâr)
— not closed
Korean:
연
(yeon)
— not closed
Kumyk:
ачыкъ
(açıq)
— not closed
Kumyk:
ачылгъан
(açılğan)
— not closed
Central Kurdish:
کراوەتەوە
(krawetewe)
— not closed
Northern Kurdish:
vekirî
— not closed
Northern Kurdish:
vebûyî
— not closed
Latin:
apertus
— not closed
Latvian:
atvērts
— not closed
Latvian:
attaisīts
— not closed
Latvian:
atdarīts
— not closed
Lithuanian:
atidaryta
— not closed
Livonian:
vāldiņ
— not closed
Lombard:
avert
— not closed
Lombard:
vèrt
— not closed
Low German:
open
— not closed
Low German:
apen
— not closed
Luxembourgish:
oppen
— not closed
Macedonian:
отворен
(otvoren)
— not closed
Malay:
dibuka
— not closed
Malayalam:
തുറന്ന
(tuṟanna)
— not closed
Maltese:
miftuħ
— not closed
Maltese:
miftuħa
— not closed
Māori:
tu(w)hera
— not closed
Māori:
ango
— not closed
Māori:
tāmoremore
— not closed
Māori:
poare
— not closed
Māori:
manahua
— not closed
Māori:
matatewha
— not closed
Maranao:
okab
— not closed
Marathi:
उघडे
(ughḍe)
— not closed
Mauritian Creole:
ouver
— not closed
Mongolian:
нээлттэй
(neelttej)
— not closed
Nepali:
खुल्ला
(khullā)
— not closed
Norman:
ouvèrt
— not closed
Norwegian Bokmål:
åpen
— not closed
Norwegian Nynorsk:
open
— not closed
Occitan:
dobèrt
— not closed
Ossetian:
гом
(gom)
— not closed
Persian:
باز
(bâz)
— not closed
Plautdietsch:
open (nds)
— not closed
Polish:
otwarty
— not closed
Portuguese:
aberto
— not closed
Rapa Nui:
hahata
— not closed
Romanian:
deschis
— not closed
Romansh:
avert
— not closed
Romansh:
aviert
— not closed
Russian:
откры́тый
(otkrýtyj)
— not closed
Campidanese Sardinian:
tzaccàu
— not closed
Sardinian:
abbertu
— not closed
Sassarese:
abértu
— not closed
Sassarese:
ibarràdu
— not closed
Scottish Gaelic:
fosgailte
— not closed
Slovak:
otvorený
— not closed
Slovene:
odprt
— not closed
Spanish:
abierto
— not closed
Swedish:
öppen
— not closed
Sylheti:
ꠈꠥꠟꠣ
(kúla)
— not closed
Tagalog:
bukas
— not closed
Tamil:
திறந்த
(tiṟanta)
— not closed
Tausug:
ukab
— not closed
Telugu:
తెరిచిన
(tericina)
— not closed
Thai:
เปิด
(bpə̀ət)
— not closed
Thai:
อ้า
(âa)
— not closed
Turkish:
açık
— not closed
Ottoman Turkish:
آچق
(açık)
— not closed
Ottoman Turkish:
مفتوح
(meftuh)
— not closed
Ottoman Turkish:
آپلمش
(açılmış)
— not closed
Tuvan:
ажык
(ajık)
— not closed
Udi:
хъай
(qaj)
— not closed
Ukrainian:
відкри́тий
(vidkrýtyj)
— not closed
Ukrainian:
відве́ртий
(vidvértyj)
— not closed
Ukrainian:
відчи́нений
(vidčýnenyj)
— not closed
Urdu:
کھلا
(khulā)
— not closed
Urdu:
باز
(bāz)
— not closed
Urdu:
واز
(vāz)
— not closed
Urdu:
وا
(vā)
— not closed
Uzbek:
ochiq
— not closed
Venetan:
verto
— not closed
Vietnamese:
mở
— not closed
Walloon:
drovou
— not closed
Walloon:
drouviet
— not closed
Walloon:
å lådje
— not closed
Waray-Waray:
abre
— not closed
Welsh:
agored
— not closed
Welsh:
ar agor
— not closed
Yiddish:
אָפֿן
(ofn)
— not closed
Zazaki:
akerde (diq)
— not closed
Bulgarian:
открит
(otkrit)
— extended, exposed <-- possibly applies to sense now worded as "Not physically drawn together, folded or contracted". -->
Latin:
patens
— extended, exposed <-- possibly applies to sense now worded as "Not physically drawn together, folded or contracted". -->
Māori:
maraha
— extended, exposed <-- possibly applies to sense now worded as "Not physically drawn together, folded or contracted". -->
Māori:
mārakerake
— extended, exposed <-- possibly applies to sense now worded as "Not physically drawn together, folded or contracted". -->
Māori:
matatea
— extended, exposed <-- possibly applies to sense now worded as "Not physically drawn together, folded or contracted". -->
Tamil:
திறந்த
(tiṟanta)
— extended, exposed <-- possibly applies to sense now worded as "Not physically drawn together, folded or contracted". -->
Ottoman Turkish:
بسیط
(basît)
— extended, exposed <-- possibly applies to sense now worded as "Not physically drawn together, folded or contracted". -->
Welsh:
agored
— extended, exposed <-- possibly applies to sense now worded as "Not physically drawn together, folded or contracted". -->
Armenian:
բաց
(bacʻ)
— prepared to conduct business
Assamese:
খোলা
(khüla)
— prepared to conduct business
Bashkir:
асыҡ
(asıq)
— prepared to conduct business
Basque:
ireki
— prepared to conduct business
Basque:
zabal
— prepared to conduct business
Bengali:
খোলা
(khōla)
— prepared to conduct business
Bulgarian:
отво́рен
(otvóren)
— prepared to conduct business
Catalan:
obert
— prepared to conduct business
Czech:
otevřený
— prepared to conduct business
Danish:
åben
— prepared to conduct business
Dutch:
open
— prepared to conduct business
Esperanto:
malfermita
— prepared to conduct business
Esperanto:
aperta
— prepared to conduct business
Estonian:
avatud
— prepared to conduct business
Finnish:
avoinna
— prepared to conduct business
Finnish:
auki
— prepared to conduct business
French:
ouvert
— prepared to conduct business
West-Frisian:
iepen
— prepared to conduct business
Galician:
aberto
— prepared to conduct business
German:
offen
— prepared to conduct business
German:
geöffnet
— prepared to conduct business
German:
offä
— prepared to conduct business
Greek:
ανοιχτός
(anoichtós)
— prepared to conduct business
Hebrew:
פָּתוּחַ
(patúakh)
— prepared to conduct business
Hungarian:
nyitva
— prepared to conduct business
Italian:
aperto
— prepared to conduct business
Japanese:
営業中
(eigyōchū)
— prepared to conduct business
Latin:
apertus
— prepared to conduct business
Latvian:
atvērts
— prepared to conduct business
Marathi:
उघडे
(ughḍe)
— prepared to conduct business
Mongolian:
нээлттэй
(neelttej)
— prepared to conduct business
Norman:
ouvèrt
— prepared to conduct business
Norwegian Bokmål:
åpen
— prepared to conduct business
Persian:
باز
(bâz)
— prepared to conduct business
Polish:
otwarty
— prepared to conduct business
Portuguese:
aberto
— prepared to conduct business
Russian:
откры́тый
(otkrýtyj)
— prepared to conduct business
Scottish Gaelic:
fosgailte
— prepared to conduct business
Slovene:
odprt
— prepared to conduct business
Spanish:
abierto
— prepared to conduct business
Swedish:
öppen
— prepared to conduct business
Sylheti:
ꠈꠥꠟꠣ
(kúla)
— prepared to conduct business
Tamil:
திறந்த
(tiṟanta)
— prepared to conduct business
Tamil:
திறந்திருக்கும்
(tiṟantirukkum)
— prepared to conduct business
Thai:
เปิด
(bpə̀ət)
— prepared to conduct business
Turkish:
açık
— prepared to conduct business
Ukrainian:
відчи́нений
(vidčýnenyj)
— prepared to conduct business
Welsh:
agored
— prepared to conduct business
Zazaki:
akerde (diq)
— prepared to conduct business