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
This is one of the longest-standing Filipino restaurants in Little Manila, opened in 1992 by Renee and Ernesto Dizon, who wanted to serve the neighborhood’s growing population of immigrant nurses.
—
Ligaya Mishan, New York Times, 11 May 2026
Kelsey Plum scored 11 of her 27 points in the fourth quarter, but by then the Aces had opened a 20-plus point lead.
—Marisa Ingemi, Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2026
The facility opened in 2019, just before the outbreak of COVID-19.
—Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 11 May 2026
San Diego opened the scoring early in the second half as Dudinha’s shot went in off a deflection from defender Sarah Gorden in the 49th minute.
—Damian Calhoun, Daily News, 10 May 2026
Kaprizov opened the scoring with a backhand deke that wrong-footed Wedgewood 17 seconds into the 4-on-4.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 10 May 2026
The second envelope opened by NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum revealed the Heat logo just minutes into Sunday afternoon’s ABC broadcast from Chicago, which is also the site of this week’s NBA Draft Combine.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 10 May 2026
The constitutional revision was approved during a session of North Korea’s Supreme People’s Assembly, which opened March 22 in Pyongyang, the outlet said.
—Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 10 May 2026
The storefront, which opened in 1852, supplied early miners with dynamite and Studebaker wheelbarrows.
—Jennifer Wilson, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
Ligaya Mishan, New York Times, 11 May 2026
Kelsey Plum scored 11 of her 27 points in the fourth quarter, but by then the Aces had opened a 20-plus point lead.
—Marisa Ingemi, Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2026
The facility opened in 2019, just before the outbreak of COVID-19.
—Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 11 May 2026
San Diego opened the scoring early in the second half as Dudinha’s shot went in off a deflection from defender Sarah Gorden in the 49th minute.
—Damian Calhoun, Daily News, 10 May 2026
Kaprizov opened the scoring with a backhand deke that wrong-footed Wedgewood 17 seconds into the 4-on-4.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 10 May 2026
The second envelope opened by NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum revealed the Heat logo just minutes into Sunday afternoon’s ABC broadcast from Chicago, which is also the site of this week’s NBA Draft Combine.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 10 May 2026
The constitutional revision was approved during a session of North Korea’s Supreme People’s Assembly, which opened March 22 in Pyongyang, the outlet said.
—Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 10 May 2026
The storefront, which opened in 1852, supplied early miners with dynamite and Studebaker wheelbarrows.
—Jennifer Wilson, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for opened
Verb
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But 21% had at least one firearm in the house unlocked and loaded - the least safe way possible to store a gun.—
Rhitu Chatterjee,
NPR,
12 May 2026
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Our team had intimate conversations with ChatGPT, regarded as taboo, which unlocked the insight that people want to be fully seen without being judged or penalized.—
Sarah DaVanzo,
Rolling Stone,
11 May 2026
Verb
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Now the airline’s demise has cleared the way for competitors to raise their prices—and has left roughly seventeen thousand people out of work.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
11 May 2026
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Gateway’s Ethan Antle cleared 14-3¼ for fifth in the pole vault.—
Buddy Collings,
The Orlando Sentinel,
10 May 2026
Verb
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Efforts have picked up in recent years to limit ownership, including in Utah, where its Republican governor, Spencer Cox, signed a bill into law that expanded previous foreign restrictions.—
Gabe Kaminsky,
CBS News,
13 May 2026
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Brazil’s criminal organizations Comando Vermelho and Primeiro Comando da Capital have expanded aggressively across the Amazon over the past decade and now dominate key trafficking corridors linking coca-growing regions in Colombia and Peru to Atlantic ports used to ship cocaine to Europe.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
13 May 2026
Verb
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When Richards began his career in criminal-justice advocacy, the idea of closing Rikers Island would have been a radical fantasy.—
Molly Fischer,
New Yorker,
11 May 2026
-
Spencer Strider, who began the year sidelined with a right oblique strain and struggled with command upon his return last week, looked close to vintage form in Los Angeles.—
Jesús Cano,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
Verb
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This and that With his double, Lopez extended his hit streak to nine games.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
7 May 2026
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Fitbit users who haven’t migrated their data to a Google account by May 19 will no longer be able to access the platform, a deadline that was extended from February.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
7 May 2026
Verb
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The news comes a few weeks after Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) boss Ravi Ahuja commenced a months-long layoffs process that will impact a few hundred of its 12,000 global staff.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
8 May 2026
-
Anika Reed The Beyoncé Gala has finally commenced.—
Anika Reed,
USA Today,
5 May 2026
Verb
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At the same time, however, the study documented dimming events including in Ukraine and Gaza as wars unfolded, in Venezuela as the economy collapsed, and in parts of Europe when governments enacted energy conservation mandates following the Russia-Ukraine war.—
Bree Shirvell,
Hartford Courant,
12 May 2026
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The March 27 accident unfolded when Woods tried to pass a truck in front of him, authorities said.—
Emily Shapiro,
ABC News,
12 May 2026
Verb
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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,
15 May 2026
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Barker and Tomlinson had been at it for a year when the pandemic started, and their classes migrated to Zoom.—
Alex Barasch,
New Yorker,
11 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Opened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/opened. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
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