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 Mamdani opened the news conference by expressing his condolences to the victims and their families and thanking the officers who responded. — Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026 The April indictment accused the organization of secretly funneling millions of dollars in donor funds to informants embedded in violent extremist movements, using bank accounts opened for fictitious companies. — Arie Perliger, The Conversation, 31 Aug. 2026 While nearby Hiro’s Kitchen, a 15-seat omakase counter, officially opened for reservation-only dinner service. — Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 Aug. 2026 In equities trading, GameStop surged more than 5% before the market opened after the video game retailer provided a preliminary second-quarter earnings outlook above its year-ago results. — ABC News, 31 Aug. 2026 The Dog Stars opened this weekend to a measly $8 million domestically. — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 31 Aug. 2026 James’s dialogue fountains down the page, as if a tap has been opened. — Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026 Many of his fellow immigrants worked jobs on the docks and opened small businesses. — Rachel Corbett, Curbed, 31 Aug. 2026 Prosecutors said that soon afterward, law enforcement detained both defendants and opened a duffle bag Olvera had carried. — City News Service, Daily News, 25 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for opened

Verb

In other words, one platform shut the door to AI agents outright; the other unlocked it on its own terms.

— Harvard Business Review, Harvard Business Review, 2 Sep. 2026
Once Meriwether unlocked that initial murder mystery, the rest cascaded like dominoes.

— Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of unlocked

Verb

Chinese manufacturers have expanded from areas including etching and deposition into ion implantation, inspection and metrology, according to Goldman.

— Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026
His father, Charles, had expanded the New Jersey real estate development business his grandfather, a Polish Holocaust survivor, had begun after starting out as a construction laborer.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of expanded

Verb

The Procession of Lights on Wednesday began at the People’s Salvation Cathedral, known as the National Cathedral, which is the world’s largest Christian Orthodox church.

— ABC News, ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026
Kansas City Royals left-hander Noah Cameron began calling his own pitches on July 24 against the Detroit Tigers.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of began

Verb

At first glance, the second-guessing commenced as Leading Change had only two career starts to his credit.

— Danny Brewer, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
The game commenced with four unanswered scores from Jenks and sloppy play from Southlake Carroll that included a handful of early penalties, messy substitutions and a lack of rhythm.

— Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of commenced

Verb

That possibility, however subtle, may have helped drive the legal chaos that unfolded in Baton Rouge just 48 hours before LSU was scheduled to take the field.

— Trey Wallace OutKick, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2026
All of this has unfolded in a consequential season for Bohm, who is an impending free agent.

— Charlotte Varnes, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of unfolded

Verb

With incomings, Newcastle’s summer started with a whimper and ended with a bang, a slow-burn of early rejections from high-profile targets which did little to ease a sense of disquiet among supporters.

— George Caulkin, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026
All four celebs started dipping their toes into fall fashion early this year, reaching for fisherman, funnel-neck, and crewneck sweaters while traveling, sipping coffee, and cooking with Ina Garten.

— Rachel Trujillo, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026