reopen

verb

re·​open (ˌ)rē-ˈō-pən How to pronounce reopen (audio)
-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

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
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.
Mills enters the race at a strange moment — the government has been shut down for two weeks and Collins is among the aspiring dealmakers trying to figure out how to reopen it. Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 14 Oct. 2025 Law enforcement is expected to assist with traffic control as the road is reopened, the state agency said. Jalen Williams, Freep.com, 14 Oct. 2025 Built in 1867, with a distinctive radial layout designed to give prisoners the feeling of being under constant surveillance, the prison recently underwent a four-year renovation and modernization program, reopening in 2019. Joseph Ataman, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025 The left-most eastbound lane of I-195 was closed, while the remaining lanes have reopened. Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 14 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for reopen

Word History

First Known Use

1605, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of reopen was in 1605

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Reopen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reopen. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

reopen

verb
re·​open (ˈ)rē-ˈō-pən How to pronounce reopen (audio)
-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 How to pronounce reopen (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on reopen

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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