door

noun

ˈdȯr 

often attributive

1

: a usually swinging or sliding barrier by which an entry is closed and opened

also : a similar part of a piece of furniture

2

: doorway

3

: a means of access or participation : opportunity

opens new doors

door to success

4

doors plural : the designated time at which the doors at a performance venue (such as a theater) are opened to admit attendees

Doors are at 8, and music starts with Garrett Owen's set at 9pm.

—Steve Steward

doorless

ˈdȯr-ləs 

adjective

Phrases

at one's door

: as a charge against one as being responsible

laid the blame at our door

Synonyms

• gate
• hatch
• portal

Examples of door in a Sentence

I heard a knock on the door.

Please don't block the door.

I peeked through the open door.

He stood at the door.

Recent Examples on the Web

Remembering how a few crucial opportunities to work on calligraphy and design at a young age prepared him for his career in film, fashion, and painting, Yi Ming hopes to open similar doors for other young artists. —Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 24 Apr. 2025

During voting, the doors of the Sistine Chapel will be locked and the Swiss Guard will stand at attention outside. —Joe Hernandez, NPR, 23 Apr. 2025

Davis said body camera footage showed the man pulling a semi-automatic pistol from his holster, leaning back in the driver's seat and immediately opening fire on the two officers who were standing near the driver's side door of his car. —Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2025

Cincinnati doesn't have a lot of left-handed relief depth, but top prospects Luis Mey and Zach Maxwell (both righties) are pounding on the door of the big leagues awaiting their call-up. —Ross Rosenfeld, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English dure, dor, from Old English duru door & dor gate; akin to Old High German turi door, Latin fores, Greek thyra

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing door

• answer the door
• at death's door
• at the door
• beat a path to your door
• closed-door
• close the door
• close the door on
• darken someone's door/doors
• door knocker
• door prize
• door-to-door
• double door
• Dutch door
• exterior/outside door
• foot in the door
• French door
• garage door
• get one's foot in the door
• get the door
• girl next door
• inside the door
• interior door
• keep the wolf from the door
• knock on the door of
• lay the blame for (something) at someone's door
• leave the door open for
• next door
• next-door neighbor
• next door to
• open door
• open the door
• out-of-door
• outside the door
• patio door
• revolving door
• show one the door
• show/see (someone) to the door
• sliding door
• stage door
• storm door
• swing door
• swinging door
• the boy/girl next door
• through the back door
• trap-door spider
• walk out the door

Rhymes for door

• boar
• boer
• bore
• chore
• cor
• core
• corps
• crore
• drawer
• floor
• flor
• for

Kids Definition

door

noun

ˈdō(ə)r 

ˈdȯ(ə)r

1

: a barrier by which an entry is closed and opened

also : a similar part of a piece of furniture

2

: doorway