Open | Mean of open in English Dictionary

/ˈoʊpən/

• not closed: such as
• not covering an opening
1. an open gate/window
2. The door suddenly swung/flew open.
3. You left the blinds wide open.
• having an opening that is not covered
1. an open doorway
2. an open box/container
3. The meat was roasted over an open fire.
4. I was so tired that I couldn't keep my eyes open.
5. Don't chew with your mouth open.
6. open cuts/wounds [=cuts/wounds not covered by skin]
7. staring with her eyes/mouth wide open

• not sealed or locked
1. open bottles of wine
2. There's already an open jar of pickles in the refrigerator.
3. an open envelope
4. Go on in. The house/door is open. [=it is not locked]
• allowing movement or travel
1. They kept the road open throughout the winter.
2. an open passageway
• able to be entered and used by customers, visitors, etc.
1. The new store is now open for business!
2. The store is open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturdays.
3. The library will not be open on Labor Day.
4. The diner is open daily [=it is open every day] for breakfast.
5. It's hard to find an open restaurant this time of night.
6. We fought to keep the school open—but it closed anyway.
• having parts that are spread apart instead of folded together or attached
1. an open umbrella
2. Several of the pink roses are open this morning.
3. The book was left open at/to page 42.
4. Your zipper is open.
5. His shirt was open [=was not buttoned] at the neck/collar.
6. your open hands
7. She ran toward me with her arms wide open. [=with her arms held away from her body so that she could embrace me]
8. They'll welcome you with open arms. [=in a very kind and friendly way]
• not containing or surrounded by walls, fences, buildings, etc.
1. the wide open spaces of the American West
2. fish caught in the open ocean [=an area of ocean that is far from land]
3. He hung his clothes out to dry in the open air. [=outside]
4. traveling on the open road [=on roads that are away from cities and towns]
5. Miles and miles of open country [=land with few buildings] lie beyond the town.
• having few walls
1. The house has an open floor plan.
2. a bright, open kitchen
• including or allowing a particular group of people
1. The contest is open to children between the ages of 8 and 13.
2. The beach is open to residents only.
3. The university library is also open to the public.
4. The after-school program is open to anyone who needs extra academic help.
• including or allowing all people
1. a meeting that allowed for open debate on the issue
2. The town soccer program will hold open registration [=a time when people can register to participate] from now until September 21.
3. an open golf tournament [=a golf tournament for both amateur and professional players]
• available to be used
1. I haven't decided to take the job yet. I'm keeping my options open.
2. He gave us an open invitation to come and visit. [=he said we could visit any time we wanted]
3. Leaving your car running with the keys inside is an open invitation to thieves.
4. It's the only course open to us.
5. Few career paths were open to women then.
• not yet taken
1. The job/position is still open. [=vacant]
2. She's running for one of two open seats on the committee.
• happening or done in public so that people can participate or know what is being said or done
1. The committee is holding open hearings on the issue.
2. open sessions/meetings
3. He testified in open court. [=in a court that anyone is allowed to attend]
• not hidden or secret
1. He is now facing open [=undisguised, overt] hostility from members of his own political party.
2. They're in open disagreement about what should be done next.
3. She speaks of the government with open disdain.
4. his open affection for his wife
5. open warfare
• expressing thoughts and feelings in a direct and honest way
1. Be open [=candid, frank] with each other about your feelings.
2. She encourages open communication between family members.
3. an open discussion about religion
• willing to listen to or accept different ideas or opinions
1. a free and open society
2. We have one of the best systems in the country, but we're always open to suggestions.
3. I know it's different, but try to keep an open mind.
4. She spoke to them with an open mind and an open heart.
• not having ended
1. The case remains open to this day. [=it has not been solved]
2. We can't talk about the case. It's still an open investigation. [=the police are still investigating the case]
3. The mayoral race is still wide open. [=any of the candidates could still win]
• allowing further comments or discussion
1. It's still an open question whether or not you may go.
2. The question is still open.
3. “Should we set a date for the next meeting?” “No, let's leave it open for now.”
4. The issue is not open for discussion. [=we will not discuss the issue]
• able to be criticized, harmed, doubted, etc.
1. He lays/makes himself open [=subject, liable] to criticism with his foolish remarks.
2. She argues that the current law is open to abuse [=the law can be abused] and should be changed.
3. It's open to doubt whether she will run for governor.
4. The author's exact meaning is open to question. [=no one knows exactly what the author means]
• not blocked or guarded by players from the other team
1. She threw the ball to an open teammate.
2. I'm open! Pass me the ball!
• having large openings or spaces between threads
1. an open mesh/texture fabric
2. an open weave wool sweater
• Verb
• to move (a door, window, etc.) so that an opening is no longer covered
1. This door is hard to open.
2. “Open the door!” shouted the police officer.
3. Would you mind if I opened a window?
4. Let's open (up) the curtains and let in some sunlight.
• to move and no longer cover an opening
1. The car door opened and a beautiful woman stepped out.
2. The door opened and closed so quietly that I didn't notice he had come in the room.
3. This drawer is stuck. It just won't open!
• to cause (something) to no longer be covered, sealed, or blocked
1. It's time to open (up) your birthday presents!
2. open a can/box/jar
3. She comes home, turns on the TV, and starts opening her mail.
4. The janitor opens the building [=unlocks the doors of the building] at 7 o'clock.
5. The city only opened (up) this street to cars five years ago.
• to separate the parts or edges of (something)
1. Open (up) your books to page 27.
2. She opened her eyes and smiled at me.
3. I opened my umbrella and stepped out into the rain.
4. “Open your mouth wide for me,” said the dentist.
5. You haven't opened your mouth [=you have not said anything] since you've been here.
6. “Open wide,” said the dentist.
7. His eyes opened slowly.
8. I can't get this suitcase to open.
9. The roses are starting to open (up).
• to make a hole or opening in (something)
1. The surgery requires opening (up) the patient's chest.
2. The heavens opened [=it began to rain] and the rain poured down. = The heavens opened up and the rain poured down.
• to allow (a park, road, etc.) to be used
1. The town opened the road again 10 days after the flood.
2. They've finally opened the bridge (up) to traffic again. [=allowed cars to use the bridge again]
3. The park opens every morning at dawn.
• to begin the regular services or activities of (a business, school, etc.)
1. We'll be opening (up) the café an hour early tomorrow morning.
2. The café will be opening (up) an hour early tomorrow morning.
3. What time does the library open?
4. The store opens at 9 a.m. on Saturdays.
• to begin the activities or services of (a business, school, etc.) for the first time
1. I've always dreamed of opening (up) a restaurant.
2. a newly opened elementary school
3. They're building a drugstore, which is scheduled to open in May.
4. We opened for business in 1955.
5. The play opens [=begins being performed] next week.
6. The film/movie opens [=begins being shown in movie theaters] nationwide later this month.
• to begin (something)
1. The police have opened (up) an inquiry/investigation into the matter.
2. We plan to open negotiations with the other side.
3. a way of opening debate/discussion on the issue
4. Let's open the bidding for this beautiful painting at $2,000.
5. Her most famous poem opens the new collection. [=it is the first poem in the new collection]
6. He always opens his speeches with a joke.
7. It's traditional to open baseball games with the national anthem.
8. She opened the meeting by thanking everyone for coming.
9. The song opens with a single voice singing a haunting melody.
10. The novel opens (up) with a description of a small apartment.
11. He always opens with a joke.
• to begin keeping money in (an account at a bank)
1. I opened (up) a new savings account at a different bank.
• to begin to use (a file, document, or program) on a computer
1. opening (up) a new document/file
2. Open the program by double-clicking on the icon.
• to allow movement or passage through a doorway or other opening
1. The hallway opens (up) into a large family room.
2. A porch opens off the kitchen. = The kitchen opens onto a porch.
3. Their bedroom opens out onto the backyard.
• to have a specified price or be at a specified level at the beginning of the day
1. The stock opened at $19 a share and closed at $22.
2. Stocks opened weak but closed strong.
• to give special opportunities to (someone)
1. Being the daughter of the famous actor opened doors for her in Hollywood.
• to begin shooting
1. A man opened fire in a crowded mall.
2. The soldiers opened fire on [=began shooting at] enemy troops.
• to perform before (the main performer at a concert, show, etc.)
1. One of my favorite comedians is opening for the band on their current tour.
• to become less shy and speak more freely
1. He began to open out [=open up] about an hour into our date.
• to make (something) easier or more likely to happen
1. Her success opened the door for thousands of young women who wanted to play sports.
2. The court ruling opened the way for similar cases.
3. His experiences in the army opened the door to a career in politics.
4. It has opened the way to real progress.
• to allow (a particular group of people) to enter, use, or participate in (something)
1. He opens his home to anyone who needs a place to stay.
2. This year, we've opened the contest to all children under the age of 16.
3. They decided to open the meeting to the general public.
• to cause or allow (someone or something) to be affected by (something bad, such as criticism)
1. Their actions have opened the government to charges of corruption.
2. By being secretive about her past, she opens herself (up) to political attacks. [=she makes herself open to political attacks]
• to become or cause (something) to become available or possible
1. It seemed that the whole world was opening up for me. [=it seemed that anything was possible]
2. Once he had his degree, many new opportunities opened up for him.
3. This discovery opens up the possibility of new research.
4. The government opened up the land for settlement.
5. People opened up their homes to those affected by the tragedy. [=they invited those affected by the tragedy to stay in their homes]
• to become or cause (something) to become wider or less crowded
1. At the bottom of the hill, the forest/landscape opens up to reveal a beautiful valley.
2. It looks like the road/traffic opens up ahead.
3. a drug that opens up the blood vessels
• to develop or cause (something) to develop
1. A wide gap in the polls has opened up between the two candidates.
2. The team won after opening up a 20-point lead in the game.
3. This opens up an important question: why did it happen?
• to become able to understand different ideas or ways of thinking
1. She encourages her students to open their minds and try to see things from new perspectives.
2. Traveling in Africa opened my mind to a completely different way of life.
3. Open your mind to the possibility that you both may be right.
• Noun
• a competition (such as a major golf tournament or tennis tournament) that allows both professionals and amateurs to participate
1. She lost at Wimbledon but won the French Open.
2. a golfer who has played in several U.S. Opens
• an area or place without walls, barriers, etc.
1. We slept out in the open with nothing above us but the stars.
2. We would look for deer feeding in the open [=away from the forest] at dusk.
3. food left out in the open [=uncovered and not put away]
• a situation in which something (such as a feeling) is no longer hidden or kept secret
1. Her true feelings were finally in the open.
2. He rarely fought his political battles in the open. [=he usually fought them in a secretive way]
3. Let's get everything out in the open. You've been lying to me, haven't you?