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
Impala Platinum has opened formal talks with Zimbabwe’s central bank and lined up meetings with both the South African and Zimbabwean governments to press for clarity on Harare’s export-earnings policy, its CEO told Semafor, escalating a commercial cash-flow dispute into bilateral negotiations.
—
Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 9 Mar. 2026
The 28-year-old California native faces growing as Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have opened a commanding gap atop the tennis world.
—Douglas Robson, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026
The Heat opened Sunday’s game with a starting lineup Davion Mitchell, Herro, Gardner, Pelle Larsson and Adebayo.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 9 Mar. 2026
In a statement on Sunday, the Israeli military said that its forces arrived and dispersed the crowd, and that a criminal investigation has been opened by the relevant authorities.
—Fadwa Hodali, Bloomberg, 8 Mar. 2026
The Hawkeyes never looked right after Taylor Stremlow opened the game with a 3-pointer to give them their only lead.
—Michael Marot, Chicago Tribune, 8 Mar. 2026
Greenwich Entertainment opened Michel Franco’s latest collaboration with Jessica Chastain, Dreams at 188 theaters to $95k.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 1 Mar. 2026
The casino, opened in 2004, features more than 2,700 slot machines and 120 table games.
—Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 1 Mar. 2026
Now the Las Vegas restaurant Golden Steer, an icon of the Sin City steak-house scene, has opened in New York City.
—Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2026
Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 9 Mar. 2026
The 28-year-old California native faces growing as Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have opened a commanding gap atop the tennis world.
—Douglas Robson, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026
The Heat opened Sunday’s game with a starting lineup Davion Mitchell, Herro, Gardner, Pelle Larsson and Adebayo.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 9 Mar. 2026
In a statement on Sunday, the Israeli military said that its forces arrived and dispersed the crowd, and that a criminal investigation has been opened by the relevant authorities.
—Fadwa Hodali, Bloomberg, 8 Mar. 2026
The Hawkeyes never looked right after Taylor Stremlow opened the game with a 3-pointer to give them their only lead.
—Michael Marot, Chicago Tribune, 8 Mar. 2026
Greenwich Entertainment opened Michel Franco’s latest collaboration with Jessica Chastain, Dreams at 188 theaters to $95k.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 1 Mar. 2026
The casino, opened in 2004, features more than 2,700 slot machines and 120 table games.
—Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 1 Mar. 2026
Now the Las Vegas restaurant Golden Steer, an icon of the Sin City steak-house scene, has opened in New York City.
—Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for opened
Verb
-
Many still leave their cars and homes unlocked.—
Dana Khraiche,
Fortune,
28 Feb. 2026
-
When paramedics arrived, Mia put her German Shepherd in its cage, unlocked the door to let them in, and cared for her dad.—
CBS Chicago Team,
CBS News,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Live Nation has faced years of antitrust scrutiny over its 2010 acquisition of Ticketmaster, which was cleared by the Obama administration and later contested as inadequate by rivals, lawmakers and fans.—
Josh Sisco,
Bloomberg,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Video posted to social media by Krista Tatschl of KMBC-TV showed passengers returning to the terminal from the tarmac after the incident was cleared.—
James Powel,
USA Today,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Last year, lawmakers boosted the annual amount allocated to the state’s film and TV tax credit program and expanded the criteria for eligible projects in an attempt to lure production back to California.—
Roger Vincent,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2026
-
While China’s economy expanded by 5% last year, the country has entered a fourth year of deflation amid real estate slump, weak consumer confidence and local government debt stress.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
That marked the first such departure order issued by Washington in Saudi Arabia since the war began.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
9 Mar. 2026
-
His win in Istanbul in 2019 represented a crushing blow to Erdogan, whose own political ascent began as the city’s mayor.—
Beril Akman,
Bloomberg,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
His concern extended beyond the precise question of the neutrality proclamation; Madison offered a more general admonition against bestowing war powers on a single, potentially flawed individual.—
Ruth Marcus,
New Yorker,
5 Mar. 2026
-
This academic year, the district extended the school day for elementary students by 20 minutes.—
Mike Danahey,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The team’s 2026 model car wasn’t in its wind tunnel until mid-April last year, when other teams had commenced such testing in January 2025.—
Madeline Coleman,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Gates tells Outdoor Life that Miller’s citizen petition was introduced to the CPW Commission in June, just a day before a furbearer working group commenced to provide recommendations on furbearer harvest.—
Dac Collins,
Outdoor Life,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
As the contentious hearing unfolded in Washington, an ICE agent shot and killed 37-year-old Renee Good hundreds of miles away on the streets of Minneapolis, setting off what would become weeks of unrelenting protests and lawsuits against the administration.—
Danya Gainor,
CNN Money,
4 Mar. 2026
-
These crimes unfolded inside the child’s closest circle, not at the hands of strangers.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Oil prices have surged above $100 a barrel after more major Middle East countries started reducing production, as storage fills up due to the closure of Hormuz.—
Louise Moon,
Bloomberg,
9 Mar. 2026
-
The shows, once Nick and I started going to them that fall, were something different entirely.—
Andrew Martin,
Vogue,
9 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Opened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/opened. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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