Meaning & Definition of Open in English

1. A clear or unobstructed space or expanse of land or water

• "Finally broke out of the forest into the open"

2. Where the air is unconfined

• "He wanted to get outdoors a little"

• "The concert was held in the open air"

• "Camping in the open"

3. A tournament in which both professionals and amateurs may play

4. Information that has become public

• "All the reports were out in the open"

• "The facts had been brought to the surface"

1. Cause to open or to become open

• "Mary opened the car door"

2. Start to operate or function or cause to start operating or functioning

• "Open a business"

3. Become open

• "The door opened"

4. Begin or set in action, of meetings, speeches, recitals, etc.

• "He opened the meeting with a long speech"

5. Spread out or open from a closed or folded state

• "Open the map"

• "Spread your arms"

6. Make available

• "This opens up new possibilities"

7. Become available

• "An opportunity opened up"

8. Have an opening or passage or outlet

• "The bedrooms open into the hall"

9. Make the opening move

• "Kasparov opened with a standard opening"

10. Afford access to

• "The door opens to the patio"

• "The french doors give onto a terrace"

11. Display the contents of a file or start an application as on a computer

1. Affording unobstructed entrance and exit

• Not shut or closed

• "An open door"

• "They left the door open"

2. Affording free passage or access

• "Open drains"

• "The road is open to traffic"

• "Open ranks"

3. With no protection or shield

• "The exposed northeast frontier"

• "Open to the weather"

• "An open wound"

4. Open to or in view of all

• "An open protest"

• "An open letter to the editor"

5. Used of mouth or eyes

• "Keep your eyes open"

• "His mouth slightly opened"

6. Not having been filled

• "The job is still open"

7. Accessible to all

• "Open season"

• "An open economy"

8. Not defended or capable of being defended

• "An open city"

• "Open to attack"

9. (of textures) full of small openings or gaps

• "An open texture"

• "A loose weave"

10. Having no protecting cover or enclosure

• "An open boat"

• "An open fire"

• "Open sports cars"

11. (set theory) of an interval that contains neither of its endpoints

12. Not brought to a conclusion

• Subject to further thought

• "An open question"

• "Our position on this bill is still undecided"

• "Our lawsuit is still undetermined"

13. Not sealed or having been unsealed

• "The letter was already open"

• "The opened package lay on the table"

14. Without undue constriction as from e.g. tenseness or inhibition

• "The clarity and resonance of an open tone"

• "Her natural and open response"

15. Ready or willing to receive favorably

• "Receptive to the proposals"

16. Open and observable

• Not secret or hidden

• "An overt lie"

• "Overt hostility"

• "Overt intelligence gathering"

• "Open ballots"

17. Not requiring union membership

• "An open shop employs nonunion workers"

18. Possibly accepting or permitting

• "A passage capable of misinterpretation"

• "Open to interpretation"

• "An issue open to question"

• "The time is fixed by the director and players and therefore subject to much variation"

19. Affording free passage or view

• "A clear view"

• "A clear path to victory"

• "Open waters"

• "The open countryside"

20. Openly straightforward and direct without reserve or secretiveness

• "His candid eyes"

• "An open and trusting nature"

• "A heart-to-heart talk"

21. Ready for business

• "The stores are open"