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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
Right now the problem for most Android foldables is that the inner screens aren’t that useful so there’s no super compelling reason to open them. — Nilay Patel, The Verge, 21 Oct. 2026 It's also set to open an outdoor amphitheater this December, along with a new Innovation Hall next January. — Renee Anderson, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
Adjective
As the women of the village take note of the Wicker Husband’s presence, the men gripe at his open displays of affection, and the Tailor’s Wife balks. — Janelle Okwodu, Vogue, 26 Oct. 2026 Hortus Conclusus may be visited by appointment, discovered by word of mouth, or encountered during open garden days, drawing hundreds—sometimes thousands—of visitors a season. — Michael James Gardner, Architectural Digest, 26 Oct. 2026
Noun
And when resources become harder to access, more of our neighbors may find themselves out in the open with nowhere to turn. — Cbs Chicago Team, CBS News, 12 Oct. 2026 The Panthers still have two slots on their active roster open, and that likely means two players on the IR/PUP/NFI lists are going to get promoted. — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 8 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for open
Recent Examples of Synonyms for open
  1. unlock
  2. clear
  3. expand
  4. free
  5. begin
  6. cleared
  7. public
  8. vulnerable
Verb
  • But less attention is paid to the advanced memory chips crucial to unlocking the benefits of AI, which are largely made in South Korea.
    — Dan Blumenthal, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2026
  • That allows rights owners to unlock cash from income streams that may continue for decades.
    — Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of unlock
Verb
  • Rau filed a civil suit against Sadruddin’s family to clear his name, and blamed the Prince’s death on the doctors who had later treated him.
    — D. T. Max, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026
  • The Secret Service wanted to know exactly who’d be out on the field with Bush, and Yankees catcher Jorge Posada had been vetted and cleared with facial recognition.
    — Don Riddell, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of clear
Verb
  • An interceptor that can engage targets at greater distances could expand the area protected by existing air defense units.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Founded by three childhood friends, Olivier Bon, Pierre-Charles Cros, and Romée de Gorianoff, who were later joined by Xavier Padovani, the Experimental Group gradually expanded to encompass wine bars, restaurants, and boutique hotels.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of expand
Verb
  • Paying down high-interest debt frees up more room in the budget.
    — Martie Bowser, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
  • On top of that, the number of French army soldiers that normally patrol Paris as part of the country’s counter-terrorism measures will be increased to free the police from stationary guard duties.
    — Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of free
Verb
  • By adjusting the distance between the tips, the team could stretch or compress the molecular structure, changing the voltage at which the current enhancement began.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2026
  • She eventually was promoted over to the ice cream machine—and began to grow fond of the adrenaline-like rush that can come with working in a restaurant.
    — Preston Fore, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of begin
Adjective
  • Not all pads are alike, but a footprint on the larger side involves five to ten acres of cleared, packed ground that serves as the hub for drilling equipment, which can include wellheads, pump jacks, tanks, wastewater storage pits, trailers, and flare stacks.
    — Alex Heard, Outside, 4 Mar. 2026
  • What counts as a cleared sidewalk?
    — Quinn Clark, jsonline.com, 1 Dec. 2025
Definition of cleared
Adjective
  • Protests last week devolved into mayhem, with people setting fires, storming public buildings, smashing shop windows, looting and clashing with police.
    — ELITSA GADEVA, Arkansas Online, 24 Oct. 2026
  • In June, the district attorney’s office filed public nuisance lawsuits intended to shut down two motels, Super 7 Inn and Delux Inn, on South Freeway in Fort Worth that are beset by crime.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of public
Adjective
  • The fact is, the bill helps to preserve Medicaid for those who need it most, including low-income families, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable populations.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 27 Oct. 2026
  • But that leaves the intricate energy system vulnerable to shocks.
    — Matt Egan, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of vulnerable

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 27 Oct. 2026.

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