1
as in unlocked
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 cleared
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 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
as in began
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of opened
Over just eight months, department officials have opened a $500 million tap for charter schools, a huge outlay for an option that often draws children from traditional public schools.
—
Megan O’Matz, ProPublica, 8 Oct. 2025
The 2-year-old appears to have gotten out into the backyard and opened a kennel where two Rottweilers were being kept, allowing the dogs to get out and attack him, the Valdosta Police Department said in a statement.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 7 Oct. 2025
And just as importantly, in the All-American tight end and immediate NFL star, Georgia had a clear go-to receiver, the one its quarterback could look to in key moments, who defenses had to worry about, and thus opened the field for other receivers.
—Seth Emerson, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
The duties follow months after the Commerce Department opened a Section 232 probe into heavy truck imports.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 7 Oct. 2025
Over the years the Perkins family opened the world’s first fly-fishing school in Manchester, followed by a wing shooting school several years later.
—Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 7 Oct. 2025
The Spring-Summer 2026 show opened with a suit, the jacket cropped at the waist and the sleeves rolled up.
—Fiona Sinclair Scott, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2025
Din Tai Fung opened its first American location in a suburban Los Angeles strip mall a quarter of a century ago, setting off a craze for its signature xiao long bao soup dumplings.
—Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 7 Oct. 2025
Norton Healthcare opened what was, at the time, the 10th children's hospital in the nation.
—Olivia Evans, Louisville Courier Journal, 7 Oct. 2025
Megan O’Matz, ProPublica, 8 Oct. 2025
The 2-year-old appears to have gotten out into the backyard and opened a kennel where two Rottweilers were being kept, allowing the dogs to get out and attack him, the Valdosta Police Department said in a statement.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 7 Oct. 2025
And just as importantly, in the All-American tight end and immediate NFL star, Georgia had a clear go-to receiver, the one its quarterback could look to in key moments, who defenses had to worry about, and thus opened the field for other receivers.
—Seth Emerson, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
The duties follow months after the Commerce Department opened a Section 232 probe into heavy truck imports.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 7 Oct. 2025
Over the years the Perkins family opened the world’s first fly-fishing school in Manchester, followed by a wing shooting school several years later.
—Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 7 Oct. 2025
The Spring-Summer 2026 show opened with a suit, the jacket cropped at the waist and the sleeves rolled up.
—Fiona Sinclair Scott, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2025
Din Tai Fung opened its first American location in a suburban Los Angeles strip mall a quarter of a century ago, setting off a craze for its signature xiao long bao soup dumplings.
—Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 7 Oct. 2025
Norton Healthcare opened what was, at the time, the 10th children's hospital in the nation.
—Olivia Evans, Louisville Courier Journal, 7 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for opened
Verb
-
The Rockets believe Thompson still has tremendous potential that has yet to be unlocked, and the hope is that thrusting him into the starting point guard role will push him to reach new heights.—
William Guillory,
New York Times,
9 Oct. 2025
-
The call-taker told them to make sure the front door was unlocked because paramedics would be there soon.—
Judy L. Thomas,
Kansas City Star,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
As tourists and locals began gathering at the scene, authorities cleared and blocked off the area to examine and recover the remains, according to Diario de Ibiza and The Sun.—
Bailey Richards,
PEOPLE,
11 Oct. 2025
-
With Taupaki bulldozing a path and anchoring the Bruins’ front, space cleared for Jaivian Thomas.—
Ira Gorawara,
New York Times,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Founded in 1980, the company’s work with the federal government expanded significantly after 2018, completing more than $100 million in contracts since 2002, according to GovTribe.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Oct. 2025
-
The league then expanded its postseason bonus pool to $500,000 total in 2022.—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Merritt began playing at Pulaski Heights more than a decade ago.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
11 Oct. 2025
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Still, determining how the Lachman Fire on New Year’s Eve actually began required painstaking analysis.—
Eric Levenson,
CNN Money,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In response, Taipei has extended mandatory military service from four months to one year, boosted arms purchases from its top supplier, the United States, and modestly raised defense spending—measures that have met stiff resistance from opposition lawmakers.—
Micah McCartney,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Oct. 2025
-
Mike Matheny’s contract was extended through 2020 at the end of the 2016 season, though he was fired in 2018.—
Katie Woo,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
An investigation into the fire and a search for Gard — which included searching the acres of cornfields around her residence — commenced shortly after.—
Rebecca Cohen,
NBC news,
9 Oct. 2025
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Standing in for the franchise’s original hometown of Fernfield is Fort Langley, British Columbia, where production recently commenced.—
Ryan Gajewski,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The shutdown, which lasted for 21 days, unfolded because Clinton and Republicans disagreed over how to balance the nation’s budget.—
Chantelle Lee,
Time,
10 Oct. 2025
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Many of those films, which vary in quality, crossed my mind as After the Hunt’s two-hour-plus runtime unfolded — perhaps an indicator of its quality.—
Mathew Rodriguez,
Them.,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Perhaps the best of all, after going through the wash for three months, this bra fits the same and hasn't started to show any wear and tear.—
Sabrina Rojas Weiss,
Parents,
8 Oct. 2025
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The Dash started play in 2014 and have struggled on the field, with only one playoff appearance over their history, a first-round loss in 2022.—
Kurt Badenhausen,
Sportico.com,
8 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Opened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/opened. Accessed 14 Oct. 2025.
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