opened

Definition of openednext
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 The company originates from a small tea shop in Taiwan opened in 1996 by a man named Zhen-hua Wu. Ernestine Siu, CNBC, 16 Feb. 2026 Koda Holeman opened the match by defeating Jeremiah Reno by technical fall 17-2. Michael Harley, Arkansas Online, 16 Feb. 2026 The New York musician opened for Bridgers on tour between 2022 and 2023, and appeared on Hawke’s 2024 album, Chaos Angel. Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 15 Feb. 2026 Nagakar sank a 3-pointer early in the second period that opened Troy’s largest lead at 32-14. Dan Albano, Oc Register, 15 Feb. 2026 Registration has opened for the River Hill High School Booster Camps for summer 2026. Susan Soldavin, Baltimore Sun, 15 Feb. 2026 The Guadalupe Centers opened in 1919 for thousands of Mexicans, Medina said, who largely either were recruited by railroads to work here or fled to Kansas City after the Mexican Revolution in 1910. Kansas City Star, 15 Feb. 2026 For now, guests at Epic Universe can travel between the new park which opened in May and Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure and the adjoining City Walk entertainment district only by car or dedicated buses. Skyler Swisher, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 Feb. 2026 Seattle opened as the favorite to win next year’s Super Bowl on BetMGM. Dan Santaromita, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for opened
Verb
  • Her judo training, combined with her freestyle training in wrestling last summer, has unlocked all sides.
    Patrick Z. McGavin, Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026
  • Snider unlocked something in 2024 with Seattle and hopes to get back to that guy after a rough season last year.
    Sahadev Sharma, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Several lanes of the highway remained closed Saturday afternoon while authorities cleared the scene.
    Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 16 Feb. 2026
  • That deal and others that followed were cleared over the objections of top antitrust division staff including Slater.
    Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 15 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The enhanced subsidies, which expanded eligibility both by lowering the percentage of household income people had to pay toward their care and removing an income cap, expired at the end of last year.
    Julie Appleby, Miami Herald, 11 Feb. 2026
  • Russia has been seen modernizing its nuclear facilities, and in recent years, China has expanded its main test site by digging new tunnels.
    Geoff Brumfiel, NPR, 11 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Sunday’s border battle at Wisconsin began in an inauspicious manner for the Minnesota women’s basketball team.
    Staff Report, Twin Cities, 16 Feb. 2026
  • Just hours after bombs began raining down on Oahu, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941, two FBI agents arrived unannounced at Nikki Nojima Louis’ home in Seattle’s Japantown.
    Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 16 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • It was originally supposed to expire in 2021 but was extended for five more years.
    VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, Arkansas Online, 6 Feb. 2026
  • Georgia Southern extended its lead to as much as 10 in the fourth before a 3-pointer from Texas State guard Deja Jones cut the deficit to five.
    Caleb Yum, Austin American Statesman, 5 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • TikTok and Snap settled with a plaintiff involved in the case before the trial commenced.
    Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 9 Feb. 2026
  • Bad Bunny commenced his historic performance with a stage set evoking Puerto Rican history, beginning with the brutal legacy of Spanish imperialism on the island.
    Raquel Reichard, Refinery29, 9 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Cops were reviewing the surveillance footage in an attempt to figure out how the shooting unfolded and identify the killer.
    Emma Seiwell, New York Daily News, 17 Feb. 2026
  • Vitello began his availability on Monday with an unprompted airing of grievances that lasted about three minutes regarding how his final days as Tennessee’s head coach unfolded.
    Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 17 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Carolyn Hax started her Washington Post advice column in 1997, after five years on the Style desk and none as a therapist.
    Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 20 Feb. 2026
  • Minnesota started slow and trailed the host Badgers 18-8 late in the first quarter.
    Staff Report, Twin Cities, 16 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Opened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/opened. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.

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