Synonyms of open
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
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
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
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
Chadner Navarro, Vogue, 30 Oct. 2025
One way to avoid getting stuck, besides doing the loop in the winter, is to go on a Wednesday, when the Park Service opens the road only to pedestrians and cyclists.
—AFAR Media, 30 Oct. 2025
Gabriela Ulloa, Architectural Digest, 25 Oct. 2025
Some coaches have been open about the potentially difficult relationship between gambling and the NBA, which has formally partnered with sports books since 2018.
—Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 25 Oct. 2025
Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
The associations had requested to leave a window open for companies to enhance auditing on their own.
—Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for open
Verb
Perhaps most notably, the resort doesn’t open until February and stays in operation well into May.
—Chadner Navarro, Vogue, 30 Oct. 2025
One way to avoid getting stuck, besides doing the loop in the winter, is to go on a Wednesday, when the Park Service opens the road only to pedestrians and cyclists.
—AFAR Media, 30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
Set against a backdrop of ivory and sand tones, the elegant furnishings employ elevated silhouettes and textured fabrics, while the cobalt blue chef’s kitchen brings an unexpected vibrancy to the open-living layout.
—Gabriela Ulloa, Architectural Digest, 25 Oct. 2025
Some coaches have been open about the potentially difficult relationship between gambling and the NBA, which has formally partnered with sports books since 2018.
—Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 25 Oct. 2025
Noun
Just hours before the thieves quietly stole the historic coins, four chainsaw-wielding thieves broke into the Louvre Museum in Paris using a ladder boosted by a mechanical boom truck to force a window open at the famed museum and steal millions of dollars worth of jewelry.
—Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
The associations had requested to leave a window open for companies to enhance auditing on their own.
—Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for open
Recent Examples of Synonyms for open
Verb
-
Grinding the seeds can unlock nutrients that your body might otherwise miss.—
Kathleen Ferraro,
Verywell Health,
5 Nov. 2025
-
And the thing that really unlocked it all was the idea for the fourth act of that movie.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The fine print — including how spend will be audited, whether marketing and postproduction count, and when the first targets kick in — will be finalized once the bill clears Parliament.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Overall, while the DOL’s restart clears a key administrative hurdle, both employers and H-1B workers should expect a gradual return to normal operations rather than an immediate recovery.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
In addition to WeRide and Pony AI, Baidu is also expanding its robotaxi offerings through its Apollo Go vehicles.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
6 Nov. 2025
-
That includes a new and robust collaboration with Brazil’s federal government and 22 of its states—including Pará—to expand cooperation on climate action.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Thuram drags Tchouameni into the space on the left and Koopmeiners runs towards Cambiaso, freeing up Yildiz to receive in space.—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Mele was freed when police linked Locci and Lo Bianco's murders to other killings that had happened when he was incarcerated.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Poetry is a feeling worth getting down, a process that begins with attending and listening.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Nov. 2025
-
The offseason begins in earnest now that the Los Angeles Dodgers defended their title by beating the Toronto Blue Jays in Saturday night’s epic Game 7.—
Patrick Mooney,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Razer went public in 2017, listing on the Hong Kong stock exchange, before going private again in 2022.—
Lucy Handley,
CNBC,
1 Nov. 2025
-
The trio will also perform spacewalks and conduct public outreach activities, among other tasks.—
Mike Wall,
Space.com,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
His full project showcases his vivid, vulnerable songwriting, cementing Slone as one of country music’s most compelling new voices.—
Jessica Nicholson,
Billboard,
3 Nov. 2025
-
Mackinac Bridge officials recorded the highest wind gust Monday morning, 49 mph, prompting an advisory and escorts across the span for vulnerable vehicles like motorcycles, pickup trucks with campers and other high-profile vehicles.—
Sarah Moore,
Freep.com,
3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
His memoir is a patchy affair, to be honest, which omits entire swaths of his achievement, yet its wayward momentum exerts a certain charm, as if Hopkins were only just in control of his reminiscences.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
3 Nov. 2025
-
Walks that resulted in us having the deepest, most honest and even the funniest conversations of our lives together.—
Louis Casiano , Janelle Ash,
FOXNews.com,
3 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Open.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/open. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share