open
open
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "open" is /ˈoʊ.pən/.
oʊ (as in "oh")
pən (as in "pun")
Word Form Variations
Verb:
Base form: open
Third-person singular present: opens
Past tense: opened
Present participle: opening
Past participle: opened
Adjective:
Base form: open
Comparative: opener
Superlative: openest (less common, often "most open")
Noun:
Singular: open
Plural: opens (less common, usually refers to sports tournaments or competitions, e.g., "the US Open")
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Verb
To move something from a closed or obstructed position, allowing access, passage, or visibility.
Example: "Please open the door to let in some fresh air."
Synonyms: unbar, unseal, unfasten, unlock, unwrap
Antonyms: close, shut, seal, lock, fasten
To begin or establish something; to make something accessible or available for the first time.
Example: "The new restaurant will open next month."
Synonyms: commence, initiate, launch, inaugurate, establish
Antonyms: close, conclude, terminate, end, shut down
To unroll or unfold something, often to reveal its contents or extent.
Example: "She carefully opened the old map."
Synonyms: unroll, unfold, spread out, unfurl
Antonyms: fold, roll up, close
Adjective
Not closed or obstructed; allowing free passage, access, or entry.
Example: "The window was open, letting in the breeze."
Synonyms: unclosed, unsealed, accessible, clear, unobstructed
Antonyms: closed, shut, sealed, blocked, obstructed
Frank, honest, and not secretive; willing to communicate and reveal thoughts or feelings.
Example: "He has a very open and honest personality."
Synonyms: candid, forthright, sincere, transparent, frank
Antonyms: secretive, guarded, reserved, deceptive, evasive
Not restricted or limited; available for all to participate in or use.
Example: "The competition is open to all students."
Synonyms: unrestricted, public, available, free, accessible
Antonyms: restricted, private, exclusive, limited, closed
Spread out or extended; not folded or closed.
Example: "The book lay open on the table."
Synonyms: unfolded, unrolled, spread, extended
Antonyms: folded, closed, rolled
Noun
A competition or tournament that is open to all qualified participants, often without strict amateur or professional distinctions.
Example: "She won the tennis open last year."
Synonyms: championship, tournament, competition, meet
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms for this specific usage)
An outdoor or unrestricted space; the uncivilized or uncultivated natural environment.
Example: "They hiked out into the open country."
Synonyms: outdoors, wilderness, expanse, wide-open spaces
Antonyms: enclosure, confinement, indoors, urban area
Examples of Use
Books:
"It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen. Winston Smith, his chin nuzzled into his breast in an effort to escape the vile wind, slipped quickly through the glass doors of Victory Mansions, though not quickly enough to prevent a swirl of gritty dust from entering along with him." (George Orwell, Nineteen Eighty-Four, June 1949)
"Every morning, her father would open the curtains, letting the sunlight flood their small kitchen." (J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, June 1997)
Newspapers:
"The government has announced plans to open new vocational training centers across the country to address youth unemployment." (The East African)
"Analysts suggest that the central bank might keep interest rates open for further adjustments based on inflation data." (Financial Times)
Online Publications:
"Google announced it would make its new AI model open source, allowing developers greater access and flexibility." (The Verge)
"Tips for keeping an open mind when encountering new cultures during travel." (Lonely Planet online)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: "Luke, open your mind. Let the Force flow through you." (Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, May 1977)
Television Series: "The detective asked the witness to be open about everything they saw that night." (Law & Order: SVU, Episode "Confession," October 2024)
Music (Song Title/Lyrics): "Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? Caught in a landslide, no escape from reality. Open your eyes, look up to the skies and see." (Queen, "Bohemian Rhapsody," October 1975)
Video Game: A common in-game prompt: "Press 'E' to open door." (The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, November 2011)
General Public Discourse:
"Let's keep an open dialogue about the challenges facing our community." (Local community meeting)
"The new supermarket is open 24 hours a day." (Sign outside a store)
"She was very open about her struggles with mental health, which helped many others." (Podcast interview)
10 Quotes Using Open
"When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us." (Alexander Graham Bell)
"The mind is like a parachute. It doesn't work if it is not open." (Frank Zappa)
"Keep your eyes wide open before marriage, half shut afterwards." (Benjamin Franklin)
"God does not open one door and shut another without a reason." (C.S. Lewis)
"A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for." (Often attributed to John A. Shedd, with variations, implying to be open to the world)
"You must be the change you wish to see in the world." (Often attributed to Mahatma Gandhi, implying an open approach to change)
"To be open to the world, to new experiences, is a fundamental aspect of growth." (Carl Rogers)
"Where there is love there is life." (Mahatma Gandhi, often used in contexts of open hearts and minds)
"The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others." (Mahatma Gandhi, suggesting an open and giving spirit)
"The truth will set you free." (John 8:32, implying an open embrace of truth)
Etymology
The word "open" has a long history, going back to the very early days of the English language.
Imagine something that isn't shut or blocked – like a gate swung wide, or someone's eyes looking around. That's the core idea of "open."
Its roots trace back to Old English (before 1150 AD), where it was open, meaning "not closed down, raised up" (for things like gates or eyelids), and also "exposed, evident, or public." It even had a slightly negative sense then, meaning "notorious" or "shameless" if something was too "open."
This Old English word came from an even older source called Proto-Germanic (upanaz), which literally meant "put or set up." You can see connections to words for "up" in other Germanic languages, like German auf or Dutch op. It's like the idea of something being "lifted up" or "uncovered."
So, the very first known use and meaning of "open" was essentially about something being unobstructed and accessible, whether it was a physical passage or something that was clearly visible and known. Over time, it developed all the other meanings we know today, like being frank, available, or starting something new.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Open
Open a can of worms: To create a new and complicated problem.
Open a new chapter: To begin a new and distinct period in life or a sequence of events.
Open doors: To create opportunities or access.
Open house: An event where a house, institution, or facility is available for public viewing.
Open to debate: Something that is still unresolved and can be discussed.
Open secret: Something that is supposed to be secret but is widely known.
Open season: A period when hunting or a particular activity is allowed, often used figuratively to mean a time when a person or group is fair game for criticism or attack.
With open arms: To welcome someone warmly and enthusiastically.
An open book: A person who is easy to understand because they reveal their thoughts and feelings freely.
In the open: Publicly known; not secret.
Open and shut case: A legal case or problem that is easily resolved because the facts are very clear.
To lay (something) wide open: To expose something completely, often making it vulnerable.
To be open with someone: To be honest and frank with someone.
To keep one's options open: To avoid making a final decision so that all possibilities remain available.
To get an open shot: (In sports) To have an unobstructed opportunity to score.
To throw something wide open: To make a competition or situation completely unpredictable or available to anyone.
To leave the door open: To allow for the possibility of something happening in the future.
To break open: To forcibly open something, often to reveal contents.
To come out into the open: To become publicly known after being secret.
To open up: To become more communicative or reveal one's feelings.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of open from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
