open 1 of 3

verb

Definition of opennext
1
as in to unlock
to change from a closed to an open position please open the door to let the cat out

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to clear
to make passage through (something) possible by removing obstructions we need to open this drain that's clogged with hair

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3
as in to expand
to arrange the parts of (something) over a wider area when we got too close, the cardinal opened its wings and flew to a higher branch

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4
as in to free
to rid the surface of (as an area) from things in the way snowplows opened the runway without much trouble

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5
as in to begin
to take the first step in (a process or course of action) we will open the proceedings tomorrow with a short ceremony

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

open

2 of 3

adjective

ˈō-pən How to pronounce open (audio)
1
as in cleared
allowing passage without obstruction thank you for clearing out the hallway so that it's open again

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in public
freely available for use or participation by all the lanes at the bowling alley will be open during the afternoon, but will be available only for league play in the evening

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3
as in vulnerable
being in a situation where one is likely to meet with harm the country's open to invasion if its borders remain unguarded

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4
as in honest
free in expressing one's true feelings and opinions a talkative and open child who tells people more than they want to know

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5
as in exposed
lacking a usual or natural covering open wounds in his legs

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6
as in shared
not known by only a select few the two boxers have an open dislike for each other

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7
as in pending
not yet settled or decided that issue will have to remain open until the supervisor can decide

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8
as in impartial
willing to consider new or different ideas she is always open and ready to listen to anyone's suggestions

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9
as in generous
giving or sharing in abundance and without hesitation he's very open with his opinions, many of which are not welcome

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open

3 of 3

noun

as in wilderness
that part of the physical world that is removed from human habitation a daguerreotype of a cowboy whose face is roughened from a hard life in the open

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective open contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of open are exposed, liable, prone, sensitive, subject, and susceptible. While all these words mean "being by nature or through circumstances likely to experience something adverse," open stresses a lack of barriers preventing incurrence.

a claim open to question

When could exposed be used to replace open?

The words exposed and open can be used in similar contexts, but exposed suggests lack of protection or powers of resistance against something actually present or threatening.

exposed to infection

When can liable be used instead of open?

While in some cases nearly identical to open, liable implies a possibility or probability of incurring something because of position, nature, or particular situation.

liable to get lost

When would prone be a good substitute for open?

While the synonyms prone and open are close in meaning, prone stresses natural tendency or propensity to incur something.

prone to delay

When might sensitive be a better fit than open?

The words sensitive and open are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, sensitive implies a readiness to respond to or be influenced by forces or stimuli.

unduly sensitive to criticism

When is subject a more appropriate choice than open?

In some situations, the words subject and open are roughly equivalent. However, subject implies an openness for any reason to something that must be suffered or undergone.

all reports are subject to review

When is it sensible to use susceptible instead of open?

The meanings of susceptible and open largely overlap; however, susceptible implies conditions existing in one's nature or individual constitution that make incurrence probable.

very susceptible to flattery

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of open
Verb
As the film opens, Cliff has reached the six-month mark of his sobriety following an unseen but frequently referenced drunk driving incident. —Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 19 Sep. 2025 Launched in 1971, PIF is one one of the world’s largest sovereign wealth funds in the world, and has been a key driver of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 strategy, spearheaded by Saudi Prime Minister Mohammed Bin Salman to open the country up and move its economy away from a reliance on oil. —Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 18 Sep. 2025
Adjective
The Ranch is open year-round, and reservations are required. —Joe Mutascio, IndyStar, 20 Sep. 2025 Reports about meat, poultry, or egg products may be filed online via the FSIS's Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System, which is open 24/7. —James Bickerton, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Sep. 2025
Noun
The dispute was now out in the open, and the Truman White House was shown to have misled the public. —John Cassidy, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025 From then on, congressional maps would be drawn in the open, by a bipartisan citizens’ commission, not by politicians protecting their own jobs. —Bernadette Suarez, Oc Register, 15 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for open
Recent Examples of Synonyms for open
  1. unlock
  2. clear
  3. expand
  4. free
  5. begin
  6. public
  7. vulnerable
  8. honest
Verb
  • Salt unlocks hidden currents To measure performance, the team used a three-point bending test.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 17 Sep. 2025
  • New members who sign up during this time will also unlock the offer, with seven days from signup to redeem.
    — Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 17 Sep. 2025
Definition of unlock
Verb
  • Martinez was designated for assignment by the Blue Jays last week as the team needed to clear a 40-man roster spot.
    — Noah Camras, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Volunteers will work with Clean Vibes crew members and fellow volunteers to clear the venue and vending areas of all event litter and debris.
    — Kirby Adams, Louisville Courier Journal, 16 Sep. 2025
Definition of clear
Verb
  • Under the agreement, Cracker Barrel expanded its board from 10 to 11 members and appointed Jody Bilney, one of Biglari’s preferred nominees, as an independent director.
    — Lily Mae Lazarus, Fortune, 18 Sep. 2025
  • Among them are Russia's ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia's growing threat to NATO's eastern flank and the war in Gaza, where Israel's offensive on Gaza City is expanding as the two leaders meet.
    — David Brennan, ABC News, 18 Sep. 2025
Definition of expand
Verb
  • But in the years that followed, Syed's judicial game of table tennis continued until he was finally freed from prison in 2022.
    — Erin Jensen, USA Today, 19 Sep. 2025
  • The goal is to free up your team’s bandwidth for the strategic relationship work that only humans can do.
    — Shawn Pierce, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Definition of free
Verb
  • The situation underscores how deeply injuries have bitten into the 49ers to begin the season, and also that their star players have been most affected.
    — The Athletic NFL Staff, New York Times, 22 Sep. 2025
  • The night began with drag performers and opening band Japanese Breakfast, doing songs from their new Melancholy Brunettes and Sad Women.
    — Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 21 Sep. 2025
Definition of begin
Adjective
  • Kirk's death was met with bipartisan condemnation from public officials, as top lawmakers on both sides of the aisle raised alarm about the rising tide in acts of violence against public officials.
    — Alexandra Hutzler, ABC News, 20 Sep. 2025
  • The lack of clarity is compounded by the fact that many of Turning Point’s largest vendors are limited liability companies registered in states that do not mandate public ownership disclosure.
    — Lily Mae Lazarus, Fortune, 20 Sep. 2025
Definition of public
Adjective
  • Crops such as rice and soybeans are also vulnerable as excessive UV-B can reduce yields and threaten food security.
    — Dianne Plummer, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Advertisement This granular knowledge and deep curiosity is also what drives Speer’s long-standing dedication to protecting the vast, vulnerable open ocean and deep-sea environments that lie outside of national borders and hold some of the largest reservoirs of biodiversity on earth.
    — Bonnie Tsui, Time, 15 Sep. 2025
Definition of vulnerable
Adjective
  • Simmons is a shell of his former self as a playmaker and was never able to develop a jump shot to at least keep defenses honest.
    — Noah Camras, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Sep. 2025
  • And being honest about that helped build long-term trust.
    — Greg Peters, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Definition of honest

Phrases Containing open

Browse Nearby Words

opaqueness
open
open-air
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Cite this Entry

“Open.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/open. Accessed 23 Sep. 2025.

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