opened

past tense of open
1
2
3
as in expanded
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 freed
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

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 opened This will be elevated to an extreme heat warning by Monday or Tuesday, and cooling centers will be opened. Andrew Kozak, CBS News, 29 June 2026 On Friday, the doors opened with just a few stranglers on hand. New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 29 June 2026 An investigation was opened into the cause of the crash. Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026 The first library in the state, stocked with books brought from England, was the Smith Library in Salisbury that opened in 1771 and morphed into the Scoville Memorial Library which still lends books today. Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 28 June 2026 In the early 1990s, Manchester United opened its megastore at Old Trafford, selling replica jerseys and other logoed gear. Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 28 June 2026 An investigation was opened into the cause of the crash. ABC News, 28 June 2026 Minions & Monsters opened this weekend across 50 screens, to $239K, well above Toy Story 5. Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 28 June 2026 In his car, Lestat is no longer able to repress his memories after having opened the floodgates. Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 22 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for opened
Verb
  • Consider glass skin officially unlocked.
    Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 24 June 2026
  • This new model enables the companies to move fluidly between formats, partners and funding structures depending on where value and momentum can be best unlocked, Passion argued.
    John Hopewell, Variety, 23 June 2026
Verb
  • After 90-plus minutes of frustration and failure to break down cagey South Africa at SoFi Stadium, Canada made history in an instant when Alistair Johnston’s long pass into the box was cleared directly into the path of Eustáquio.
    Greg Beacham, Chicago Tribune, 29 June 2026
  • In episode 2 of House of the Dragon season 3, which aired on Sunday, June 28, Alicent (Olivia Cooke) cleared the way for Rhaenyra to take control of the Red Keep.
    Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 29 June 2026
Verb
  • Under his leadership, SMUD expanded workforce training programs, and joined the state’s Energy Imbalance Market, a wholesale energy-trading market that allows SMUD to buy low-cost renewable energy in real time, and sell excess energy to generate additional revenue.
    Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 24 June 2026
  • According to the agency, the Dodd-Frank Act, a 2010 law passed in the wake of the housing crash to tighten financial oversight, expanded its authority by giving it control over swaps, a type of derivative contract.
    Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 24 June 2026
Verb
  • The annual Wawa Welcome America celebration began with performances by singer Paula Holloway and a choir of more than 100 singers from churches across the Philadelphia region.
    Eva Andersen, CBS News, 29 June 2026
  • There’s a lot of racing history at the Big A, which began in 1894, before Queens was even part of New York City.
    New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 29 June 2026
Verb
  • The board in recent months extended the interim top official, Denise Saddler, for another year.
    Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 26 June 2026
  • The United States first granted protections to Haitians in 2010 after a catastrophic earthquake and extended them multiple times amid ongoing gang violence that has displaced more than a million people, according to court documents.
    Lindsay Whitehurst, Chicago Tribune, 25 June 2026
Verb
  • Before the Oranje Fanwalk commenced Thursday, the Netherlands packed the Power & Light for food and some beverages.
    Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 26 June 2026
  • In preparation for the aircraft’s arrival next year, Qantas pilots have commenced training on Australia’s first A350 simulator in Sydney and with British Airways in the UK.
    Michael Goldstein, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026
Verb
  • The top of the draft unfolded as expected.
    Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 24 June 2026
  • The exhibit unfolded in partnership with Home of Football, a new cultural destination dedicated to the globally beloved game, which opened in the heart of New York’s design district between Chelsea and Hudson Yards on Monday.
    Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 23 June 2026
Verb
  • The prime minister said a formal environmental impact assessment has not started because the plan for the development has not been finalized.
    Zana Cimili, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026
  • Teng, who has started and relieved in his professional career, threw a career-high 136 1/3 innings with Double-A Richmond in 2022.
    Chandler Rome, New York Times, 29 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Opened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/opened. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.

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