1
as in unlocked
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 cleared
to make passage through (something) possible by removing obstructions
we need to open this drain that's clogged with hair
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in expanded
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in freed
to rid the surface of (as an area) from things in the way
snowplows opened the runway without much trouble
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in began
to take the first step in (a process or course of action)
we will open the proceedings tomorrow with a short ceremony
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of opened
Seattle opened as the favorite to win next year’s Super Bowl on BetMGM.
—
Dan Santaromita, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Her grandfather opened Lewis Street Auto Body, which is still in the family.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 8 Feb. 2026
No one has ever even opened that book.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 8 Feb. 2026
The Wildcats on Saturday also set the conference record for best start to a season, passing KU’s 1996-97 squad that opened 22-0.
—Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 8 Feb. 2026
The couple sailed to the Bahamas on Royal Caribbean International’s Wonder of the Seas specifically to visit Royal Beach Club Paradise Island, which opened in December.
—Nathan Diller, USA Today, 8 Feb. 2026
The Justice Department has opened a civil rights investigation into the Pretti shooting, US Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced Friday.
—Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 2 Feb. 2026
Brooklyn native Richard Beavers opened his eponymous Bed-Stuy gallery in 2007 with a mission to promote diverse works for contemporary art.
—Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News, 1 Feb. 2026
The hotel recently opened a game-changing thermal experience, Basin Glacial Waters, which is currently only available to guests ($200 for a three-hour pass).
—Jen Murphy, Outside, 1 Feb. 2026
Dan Santaromita, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Her grandfather opened Lewis Street Auto Body, which is still in the family.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 8 Feb. 2026
No one has ever even opened that book.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 8 Feb. 2026
The Wildcats on Saturday also set the conference record for best start to a season, passing KU’s 1996-97 squad that opened 22-0.
—Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 8 Feb. 2026
The couple sailed to the Bahamas on Royal Caribbean International’s Wonder of the Seas specifically to visit Royal Beach Club Paradise Island, which opened in December.
—Nathan Diller, USA Today, 8 Feb. 2026
The Justice Department has opened a civil rights investigation into the Pretti shooting, US Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced Friday.
—Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 2 Feb. 2026
Brooklyn native Richard Beavers opened his eponymous Bed-Stuy gallery in 2007 with a mission to promote diverse works for contemporary art.
—Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News, 1 Feb. 2026
The hotel recently opened a game-changing thermal experience, Basin Glacial Waters, which is currently only available to guests ($200 for a three-hour pass).
—Jen Murphy, Outside, 1 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for opened
Verb
-
The Olympic announcement unlocked a future that some of the best flag football players in the game, like quarterback Diana Flores, had only dreamt of.—
Maura Carey,
Fortune,
10 Feb. 2026
-
But this document, which compelled me to interrogate my past more fully, unlocked the doors for a discussion on gender violence in my family history, most urgently the history of my sister’s femicide.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Jayson Tatum has cleared another benchmark in his Achilles rehab, according to a report from ESPN’s Shams Charania.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Earlier this week, the FAA cleared the company to resume launches.—
Robert Z. Pearlman,
Space.com,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The enhanced subsidies, which expanded eligibility both by lowering the percentage of household income people had to pay toward their care and removing an income cap, expired at the end of last year.—
Julie Appleby,
Miami Herald,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Russia has been seen modernizing its nuclear facilities, and in recent years, China has expanded its main test site by digging new tunnels.—
Geoff Brumfiel,
NPR,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The Seahawks’ victory completed a season that began with an NFC West loss to the 49ers at Lumen Field.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
-
The show began with Bad Bunny peering through some tall grass as if in a sugar cane field in Puerto Rico.—
Kathleen Walsh,
Glamour,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
It was originally supposed to expire in 2021 but was extended for five more years.—
VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Georgia Southern extended its lead to as much as 10 in the fourth before a 3-pointer from Texas State guard Deja Jones cut the deficit to five.—
Caleb Yum,
Austin American Statesman,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
TikTok and Snap settled with a plaintiff involved in the case before the trial commenced.—
Jonathan Vanian,
CNBC,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Bad Bunny commenced his historic performance with a stage set evoking Puerto Rican history, beginning with the brutal legacy of Spanish imperialism on the island.—
Raquel Reichard,
Refinery29,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
An unprecedented wave of Chinese AI listings has also unfolded in Hong Kong.—
John Liu,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
-
As the investigation into the shooting unfolded, detectives showed still images of Neves-Valente taken from surveillance video to several shooting victims.—
Ashley Carnahan,
FOXNews.com,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The Belgium international has started to utilise his physical traits, increasingly aggressive in duels and more willing to dominate his opponent.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Villa, who started the taqueria as a pop-up in the Highland Park neighborhood in 2018, took to Instagram to express gratitude for the opportunity, underscoring his family’s immigrant background.—
Andrea Flores,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Opened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/opened. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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