reopen

verb

re·​open (ˌ)rē-ˈō-pən 

-ˈō-pᵊm

reopened; reopening; reopens

transitive verb

1

: to open again

2

a

: to take up again : resume

reopen discussion

b

: to resume discussion or consideration of

reopen a contract

3

: to begin again

intransitive verb

: to open again

school reopens in September

Synonyms of reopen

• continue
• restart
• resume

Examples of reopen in a Sentence

The restaurant will reopen in April.

I'm sorry, but the store is closed. We reopen at nine on Monday.

The cut on his knee reopened when he tried to run.

The company announced plans to reopen its Detroit factory.

a procedure to reopen a clogged artery

The district attorney reopened the murder case because new evidence was found.

He wants the team to reopen his contract.

Recent Examples on the Web

Oil prices fell Monday even as diplomatic efforts to end the US-Iran war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz sputtered. — Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 3 Aug. 2026

Sherrill joined Newark Mayor Ras Baraka in renewing their calls for the Delaney Hall facility, which reopened last year as an ICE detention facility, to close. — Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026

While serving as mayor, the city was reeling from the Carswell Air Force Base’s closure, but it was reopened as the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base in 1994. — Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Aug. 2026

Since then, doctors, nurses, hospital workers and community advocates have pushed for the state to step in to help reopen the hospitals, which serve large numbers of people on Medicaid. — Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune, 3 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1605, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing reopen

• reopen old wounds

Rhymes for reopen

• open
• atropine

Kids Definition

reopen

verb

re·​open (ˈ)rē-ˈō-pən 

-ˈōp-ᵊn

1

: to open again

2

: to take up again : resume

reopen the discussion

Legal Definition

reopen

transitive verb

re·​open ˌrē-ˈō-pən 

1

: to take up again

reopen discussion

2

: to resume the discussion or consideration of (a closed matter)

reopen the contract to negotiate benefits

3

: to try or hear (an action) anew especially for the purpose of hearing new evidence