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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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
In Norway, the official duties of the sovereign are primarily ceremonial, but the monarch heads Council of State meetings on Fridays and formally opens the new session of the Norwegian Parliament each year. — James Frater, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026 DeBoer briefly regained some goodwill by beating Oklahoma to open the College Football Playoffs after a 28-3 drubbing by Georgia in the SEC Championship. — Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Aug. 2026
Adjective
By fields of cotton and soybeans where his bees forage and pollinate, Foster Hensel pries open the lid of one of his beehives, setting off a rising hum from inside. — Drew Hawkins, NPR, 27 Aug. 2026 Currently there are more open put contracts than calls in SpaceX, according to open interest data tracked by Barchart. — Oliver Renick, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
Noun
Near the front door inside the home, troopers allegedly found a tan handgun with its slide open, the warrant affidavit said. — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 19 Aug. 2026 Unless our work requires us to deal with it daily, our relationship with it ends the moment our bodies expel it in the blissful privacy of our bathrooms (or, if the need is dire, out in the open with only nature to keep us company). — Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 Aug. 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
  • Restoring a sense of freedom to Marmoush’s game will be key to unlocking his confidence and his best form.
    — Thom Harris, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The Titans are banking on a new head coach to unlock second-year quarterback Cam Ward, as Robert Saleh is the new leader in Tennessee.
    — NBC Sports, NBC news, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of unlock
Verb
  • The penalties are a key point because, though the judge could clear the players to be eligible, a school may still be reluctant to risk being penalized by the conference.
    — Seth Emerson, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Federal judges cleared Brown and Jimerson of roles in the killing in 2018.
    — Brett Barrouquere, Arkansas Online, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of clear
Verb
  • Japan’s Inpex, for example, formed a joint venture to expand its LNG investment in Australia’s Northern Territory.
    — Katie Silver, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2026
  • While most of its stores are in mainland China, the company had 4,378 stores overseas as of end-June and has been expanding into new markets, including central Asia and the Americas.
    — Jenny Lee, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of expand
Verb
  • The 60-day injury list would change to 12 weeks and would still free up a 40-man roster spot.
    — Evan Drellich, New York Times, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Some analysts believe part of the recent selling stems from investors freeing up capital to participate in trading.
    — , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of free
Verb
  • The administration did cripple Iran's nuclear program in 2025 with bombing strikes on various facilities, but since this war began, there's been no effective action taken against its nuclear program.
    — Dana Taylor, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Since Tiffany’s attacks began, Crowley has moved in Hong’s general direction, emphasizing his requirements—using exclusively renewable energy to power new data centers, building them with union labor—for developers to receive the tax breaks.
    — Dan Kaufman, New Yorker, 28 Aug. 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
  • Shein's Hong Kong debut comes after earlier attempts to go public in New York and London did not materialize.
    — Jenny Lee, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2026
  • This was far from Towns’ first public splash in the sports card space.
    — Larry Holder, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of public
Adjective
  • The song is written as a conversation with that mythic other woman, who Parton confronts here in a way that manages to come across as both extremely vulnerable and drawing on a huge reserve of strength.
    — Ed Masley, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026
  • For someone vulnerable to an eating disorder, [pressure] from social media, celebrity images, or the growing visibility of GLP-1 medications can reinforce restriction and the belief that their body is somehow not small enough.
    — Marti Noxon, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of vulnerable

Phrases Containing open

Browse Nearby Words

opaqueness
open
open-air
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Open.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/open. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of conscientious

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All