OPENED Synonyms: 132 Similar and Opposite Words

opened

verb

past tense of open

as in unlocked

to change from a closed to an open position please open the door to let the cat out

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Relevance

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as in cleared

to make passage through (something) possible by removing obstructions we need to open this drain that's clogged with hair

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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

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as in freed

to rid the surface of (as an area) from things in the way snowplows opened the runway without much trouble

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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

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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 So So Fed opened for Sunday dinner — and nobody had assembled the siu mai dumplings. — Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 19 Sep. 2026 Innovative methodologies, including demography and quantitative analysis, folklore, material culture, oral history, and family reconstitution opened new windows into the past. — Drew Gilpin Faust, The New York Review of Books, 19 Sep. 2026 Resident Evil opened in 3,684 North American theaters and carries a $75 million production budget. — Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 19 Sep. 2026 Yet that’s hardly slowed the Dodgers, who opened their final homestand of the season having won 11 of their last 14 games. — Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2026 Two years ago, OCPS opened its newest high school, Innovation High, in the Lake Nona area. — Steven Walker, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Sep. 2026 Dixon caught eight passes for 131 yards for the Illini (2-1), who opened the season with three home games. — Steve Stein, Chicago Tribune, 19 Sep. 2026 The game opened somewhat as a pick’em, but has moved in favor of the Tigers taking this one. — David Troy Outkick, FOXNews.com, 19 Sep. 2026 In 2005, the Cage was opened by Ross (the Boss) Friedman, a founding member of the pugnacious and seminal punk band the Dictators, stalwarts of the early CBGB scene. — Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for opened

Verb

Trauma and tragedies—such as the death of his parents, or periods of estrangement from his siblings—receive less scrutiny than the emotions unlocked by Virginia Woolf or Roland Barthes.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2026
She was not obligated to be so open, but her humility unlocked me.

— David Elkowitz, STAT, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of unlocked

Verb

The measure passed the Senate 86-11 in August and cleared the House 262-159 on Wednesday, sending it to Trump for his signature.

— Samya Kullab, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2026
During the episode, Stiles revealed that Parton had cleared the use of the song prior to her death in August.

— Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of cleared

Verb

Most of us who do philosophy began by hoping to find definitions too.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 Sep. 2026
Crews began working Monday on Pocket Road near East Shore Drive to replace a sewer manhole and about 50 feet of a sewer main and repave the intersection, according to the project’s webpage.

— Madison Smalstig, Sacbee.com, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of began

Verb

The report highlights that even as fiber lines are extended into rural areas and billions of federal and state dollars are deployed, affordability and access remain insurmountable barriers for many families.

— Erin Mote, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026
Odds of a hike on Wednesday's meeting extended to above 91 percent by midday as equity prices firmed.

— Oliver Renick, CNBC, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of extended

Verb

Then the Padres commenced giving him a big cushion, scoring two runs in the second inning and batting around and scoring five times in the second.

— Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Sep. 2026
As the wreckage of the World Trade Center’s Twin Towers smoldered, the United States commenced military operations in Afghanistan.

— Daniel Byman, Foreign Affairs, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of commenced

Verb

When Hunt ran against Cornyn and Paxton in the Texas Republican Senate race, the contest grew increasingly bitter as the primary unfolded.

— Lauren Morganbesser, semafor.com, 17 Sep. 2026
Perez Hilton’s family is clearing up some false reports tied to the blogger’s recovery from a self-harm incident that unfolded on TikTok last month.

— Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of unfolded

Verb

The escalation ended a 2022 ceasefire that largely ended fighting in Yemen's civil war, which started when the Houthis swept in from their mountainous heartland and seized much of northern and central Yemen, including Sanaa, 12 years ago.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 21 Sep. 2026
Ildemaro Vargas started the ninth with a walk, winning an ABS challenge on a full-count pitch initially called a strike.

— ABC News, ABC News, 20 Sep. 2026