open
/ˈəʊ.pən/ IELTSAcademic
adjective
Not closed, covered, or blocked. It lets people or things go in, out, or through. It can also mean available or ready for use.
- The window is open.
- The shop is open today.
- We have an open seat near the front.
verb
To make something not closed, or to start something. You can open a door, a box, a meeting, or a business.
- Please open the box carefully.
- She opened the meeting at 9 a.m.
- They will open a new store soon.
Adinary Nuance
Open is broader than "unlocked" or "clear". Use "unlocked" for something that can be entered, and "open" for the state of being not closed. As a verb, "open" is simpler and more common than "initiate" in everyday English. In formal writing, "open" still sounds natural when you mean start or begin.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- mở
- Spanish
- abierto
- Chinese
- 打开的
- Japanese
- 開いている
- Korean
- 열린
Etymology
Open comes from Old English open, from Proto-Germanic. It has been used in English since before the 12th century.
Common phrases
open mindopen dooropen to discussionopen for business
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is open a verb or adjective?
- It is both. As an adjective, it means not closed. As a verb, it means to make something not closed or to start something.
- What is the difference between open and unlocked?
- Open means not closed. Unlocked means a lock is not stopping it, but it may still be closed.
- Is open formal or informal?
- It is common in both spoken and written English. It is simple, natural, and widely used in business writing.
- Can I say open a meeting?
- Yes. It means to start the meeting. This is common in formal and business English.