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 In his car, Lestat is no longer able to repress his memories after having opened the floodgates. Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 22 June 2026 Kyle Stowers opened the scoring with a 426-foot homer in the second, and Otto López drove him in from first with a go-ahead double in the fourth. Tyler Carmona, Miami Herald, 21 June 2026 The floodgates for super PAC spending were thus opened and corporations and the super wealthy came marching in. Richard J. Davis, New York Daily News, 21 June 2026 There are two main full-service resort hotels, the fancier of which is the Grand Cascades Lodge, but both have large spas and pool complexes, and the resort just opened a new state-of-the-art fitness center. Larry Olmsted, Forbes.com, 21 June 2026 The 12-room hotel, which opened in April 2025, is a former private residence, built in the 1960s by Tunisian architect Charles Boccara. Elizabeth Cantrell, Travel + Leisure, 21 June 2026 The Seabird Resort and the Mission Pacific Beach Resort both opened overlooking the Oceanside Municipal Pier in May 2021 with a total of 387 rooms, along with restaurants and retail shops. Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 June 2026 Hayes gives good minutes Veteran guard Tiffany Hayes opened the game strong off the bench. Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 21 June 2026 The Cultural Center doors opened, and out walked Barack Obama smiling and looking right and left. Chicago Tribune, 14 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
  • Ghalenoei suggested at a prematch news conference Saturday that Iran had been cleared to arrive in Washington two days early.
    Andrew Greif, NBC news, 22 June 2026
  • In fact, the battle could have cleared House of the Dragon of its reputation for sluggishness.
    Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 22 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
  • After Iran played to a draw Sunday at SoFi Stadium, its second of the World Cup in as many matches, the team’s coach began his postmatch assessment by backing up six months.
    Andrew Greif, NBC news, 22 June 2026
  • Young also noted that Iran’s Gulf neighbors will invest in pipelines to avoid oil flows through the strait, which allowed for the transit of 20 million barrels a day before the war began.
    Deva Lee, CNN Money, 22 June 2026
Verb
  • According to the agreement, the two sides are supposed to negotiate the issues in 60 days but Baghaei said the deadline could be extended if necessary.
    Joey Garrison, USA Today, 19 June 2026
  • From packed streets to neighborhood businesses, the excitement surrounding the team's title has extended well beyond basketball.
    Hannah Kliger, CBS News, 19 June 2026
Verb
  • 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
  • Years later, on May 24, 2011, Casey's trial commenced in Orlando.
    Kelsie Gibson, PEOPLE, 16 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
  • Just as nine days of early voting started June 13, Conley became the latest target of attack ads linked to Republicans, who used similar tactics to influence voters in earlier Democratic primaries this year.
    Chris McKenna, USA Today, 22 June 2026
  • What started as a handful of infested trees in Evergreen, Colorado, has turned into hundreds for landowner Jon Hager.
    Spencer Wilson, CBS News, 22 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Opened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/opened. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.

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