Word family noun the open opener opening openness adjective open opening unopened verb open adverb openly
From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishopeno‧pen1 /ˈəʊpən $ ˈoʊ-/ ●●● S1 W1 adjective 1 door/container etcOPEN not closed, so that things, people, air etc can go in and out or be put in and out OPP closed, shut He threw the door open and ran down the stairs. an open window The gates swung silently open. The bar door flew open and a noisy group burst in. All the windows were wide open (=completely open). She looked at the open suitcase with surprise. There was an open bottle of wine on the table.2 eyes/mouthOPEN not closed, so that your eyelids or your lips are apart I was so sleepy, I couldn’t keep my eyes open. He was fast asleep with his mouth wide open.3 not enclosed [only before noun]SHOW/LET somebody SEE something not enclosed, or with no buildings, walls, trees etc There was open ground at the end of the lane. open spaces such as parks and gardensopen countryside/country At weekends people want to leave the town for open countryside. A shoal of fish swam past heading for the open sea (=part of the sea away from land). The car’s performance is good, especially going fast on the open road (=a road without traffic where you can drive fast).4 not coveredCOVER without a roof or cover The president was riding with his wife in an open car. Martin was struggling with the sails on the open deck. an open drainopen to the sky/air/elements Many of the tombs had been robbed and left open to the sky.5 → the open air6 business/building etc [not before noun]BBTREADY ready for business and allowing customers, visitors etc to enter OPP closed, shut The museum is open daily in the summer months. The offices are also open at weekends. After the security alert, most of the firms affected were open for business on Monday morning. The villagers are anxious that their local school is kept open. I declare this exhibition open (=officially say that it is now open). 7 not restrictedFREE TO DO WHAT YOU WANT allowing everyone, or everyone in a group, to take part in something, know about something, or have a chance to win somethingopen to The competition is open to all readers in the UK. In many schools, governors’ meetings are not open to the public. The discussion was then thrown open for the audience’s questions. an open meeting The men’s race appears wide open (=anyone could win it). The painting would fetch several hundred dollars on the open market (=a market in which anyone can buy or sell).8 opportunity [not before noun]AVAILABLE if an opportunity, a possible action, a job etc is open to you, you have the chance to do it The job is being kept open for her.open to The 1960s was a period when greater opportunities were open to women. So what other options are open to us? There is only one course of action open to the local authority.9 not secret [only before noun]HIDE/NOT SHOW actions, feelings, intentions etc that are open are not hidden or secret Her father watched her with open admiration. open hostility between the two nations The party was calling for more open government (=when the government makes information freely available). The case will be tried in open court (=in a court where everything is public). It is an open secret (=it is supposed to be secret, but most people know about it) that she is having an affair with another man.10 honestHONEST honest and not wanting to hide any facts from other peopleopen with The couple are quite open with each other about their feelings.open about She was quite open about her ambitions. his friendly, open manner► see thesaurus at honest11 clothesDCCFASTEN/DO UP not fastened the open neck of his shirt She was wearing an open jacket. 12 not yet decidedDECIDE needing more discussion or thought before a decision can be made The matter remains an open question.open to The new rates of pay are open to negotiation. The test results are open to interpretation.keep/leave your options open Officers investigating her death are keeping their options open.13 → open to something14 not blockedTTRTC if a road or line of communication is open, it is not blocked and can be used We try to keep the mountain roads open all through the winter.15 spread apart spread apart instead of closed, curled over etc At night the flowers were open. Johnson raised an open hand. He was sitting in bed with a book lying open (=with its pages apart so it can be read) on his knees.16 → an open mind17 → be open to question/doubt18 → welcome/greet somebody/something with open arms19 → an open invitation20 → be an open book21 → the door is open22 → keep your eyes/ears open23 → open weave/texture → keep an eye open (for something) at eye1(14), → with your eyes open at eye1(19), → open-eyedExamples from the Corpus
open• Highway 5 is blocked by snow, but Route 35 remains open.• I was so tired I could hardly keep my eyes open.• Like a foot in the door, they can leave a channel stuck open.• She lay on her stomach, tangled in sheets, eyes closed and mouth open.• Ben was staring at her with his mouth wide open.• Diana's very easy to talk to because she's so open.• Greg has always been very open about his sexuality.• I am bothered by your open admiration of these criminals.• Only then, in the shock of the open air at last, did we break ranks and go our separate ways.• Outside, in the open air, it was glorious.• Do you know you left the window wide open all night?• As her mouth fell innocently open and her body relaxed, Ludovico Castelfranco examined her closely.• Emily realised that her handbag was open and her money gone.• I try to be open and honest with my employees and let them know exactly what's going on.• Bill's white shirt was open at the collar.• an open carriage• frank and open discussions• I'm sorry, but the doctor doesn't have anything open for this afternoon.• He's a nice looking young man with a open, honest smile.• Her blouse came open in front of a nationwide TV audience!• He had a very open nature.• A book lay open on the table.• an open sewer• The result is a more free-flowing, open sound.• an open staircase• He would lie there quietly, eyes wide open, taking from her skin what he needed.• The inquest jury returned an open verdict because of conflicting evidence.• Carrie stood in front of the open window.wide open• She left the door wide open.• Sherman stared at the man with his eyes wide open.• After the stale fug in the tiny cabin, she gulped down the clean sea air, the car window wide open.• I will say this only once and I hope your cars are wide open.• The snap showed Jennifer with eyes closed and mouth wide open.• Their eyes are wide open as they pass the object round.• Leave the window wide open in winter; turn off the airconditioning in summer.• When I came into the hall, his eyes were wide open, staring straight at me.• His eyes seemed darker blue and more wide open than usual.• Some of the villa front doors were wide open to him.wide open• After the stale fug in the tiny cabin, she gulped down the clean sea air, the car window wide open.• I will say this only once and I hope your cars are wide open.• The snap showed Jennifer with eyes closed and mouth wide open.• Their eyes are wide open as they pass the object round.• Leave the window wide open in winter; turn off the airconditioning in summer.• When I came into the hall, his eyes were wide open, staring straight at me.• Some of the villa front doors were wide open to him. open road• Do you relish the prospect of the open road?• We ate in the fields or on the open road.• And it has opened roads and bridges destroyed during the fighting.• Daniel Boone heard it: the siren song of the open road, beckoning him to pack up and go.• The current barrier was installed in 1972, after residents submitted a petition saying the open road caused traffic hazards.• On the open road, it's no use pretending that the Bentley handles with the agility of a Porsche.• If your equipment has to go outside on open roads or gravelled surfaces, remember castors are not always suitable.• Racing on open roads was subsequently banned and the great Paris races came to an end.open to the sky/air/elements• An open doorway on the opposite side gave a bright rectangular view of an area of beaten earth open to the sky.• Not necessarily fully air-conditioned and heated, but at least no longer open to the elements.• The chancel is open to the sky.• The toilets and urinals were to the left of this section - the urinals being roofless and thus open to the elements.• They bend their heads right back until their faces are entirely open to the sky.• This was a covering curtain with a central aperture which left the arena open to the sky.• The frigidarium was presumed to be open to the sky and contained a large open-air swimming bath.• Part of it was open to the sky, so that a wedge of scalding light fell into the gloom.open for business• It was quite possible that it would be still open for business.• Just so; think of it as your local True Value, open for business.• What she liked about the shop was that it was open for business on every day of the year.• The establishment was not open for business on Sunday.• I know of a drive-in theater that opened for business one evening in 1981, and not a single car turned up!• The first will run between Bury and Victoria railway station as the £130 million Metrolink system opens for business this morning.• The new University of California campus and the Salk Institute were opening for business, with shipments of intellectuals arriving daily. the open market• Any dwellings not taken up within a specified time are placed on the open market.• If the Bank wishes to reduce the money supply it will sell securities through its broker on the open market.• It is likely to be some years before such a product is on the open market.• It will sell the rest on the open market.• The oil would not be sold directly on the open market.• The OEWs are proprietary devices available from several suppliers on the open market so they do not rank as critical technology.• Priced on the open market, they would sell for tens and tens of billions of dollars.• It said that the capital's availability in the open market was doubtful and suspect.options ... open• As John Tooby has pointed out, parasites simply can not keep their options open.• At the end of the season, I will keep my options open.• If you do not know exactly what is going to happen it is well to keep your options open.• These are still very early days and the options are wide open.• This leaves secondary schools with the question of what options are left open.• You need to keep your options open in order to change courses at a moment's notice.• Some companies are keeping their options open on retaining or dumping anachronistic names.• With customary caution, he is keeping his options open while the issue is still in the political incubator.an open secret• It is an open secret, however, that soldiers are not to arrest war criminals they encounter.• Hamel's marriage breakdown had been an open secret long before it was reported in the paper.• It is an open secret that he and Reg Pybus are bosom pals.• It was an open secret that the marriage had become a complete sham, Watson. open with• The story opens with the family's arrival in Boston from another city.• I've been very open with you, and I would appreciate your support.keep/leave your options open• At the end of the season, I will keep my options open.• Either way, you can keep your options open.• Flexibility is key, keeping your options open.• Many young people want to keep their options open.• We must expect to be surprised in the future, and we must keep our options open.• The band is keeping its options open, and doesn't rule out the possibility of another tour.• You need to keep your options open in order to change courses at a moment's notice.• Some companies are keeping their options open on retaining or dumping anachronistic names.• We want to keep our options open until the last possible minute.keep ... open• Many young people want to keep their options open.• The relationship between the parents must be given priority, to keep communication open.• Labour has vowed to keep the Works open if it wins control of the Council at the next election.• Police say they're keeping an open mind.• Keep your eyes open, so that you see more than what is just in front of you.• White even tried to keep one branch open until midnight and to put a Laundromat in another.• With customary caution, he is keeping his options open while the issue is still in the political incubator.• Without the added income from investments, though, organization directors say keeping the doors open would be difficult. openopen2 ●●● S1 W1 verb 1 door/window etc [intransitive, transitive]OPEN to move a door, window etc so that people, things, air etc can pass through, or to be moved in this way Jack opened the window. He opened the drawer of the desk. She heard a door open and then close.2 container/package [transitive]OPEN to unfasten or remove the lid, top, or cover of a container, package etc Louise opened a bottle of wine. He opened the letter and began to read it. The children were opening their presents. Mark was about to open a beer when the doorbell rang.3 eyesOPEN [intransitive, transitive] to raise your eyelids so that you can see, or to be raised in this way Barry was awake long before he opened his eyes. Carrie smelled coffee and her eyes opened reluctantly.4 mouthOPEN [intransitive, transitive] to move your lips apart, or to be moved in this way He opened his mouth but couldn’t think what to say.5 start operating [intransitive, transitive] (also open up)BBTSTART something/MAKE something START if a place such as an office, shop, restaurant etc opens or is opened, it starts operating or providing a service Sarah had recently opened an office in Genoa. French and Scandinavian offices are due to open in the autumn. The Forestry Commission has opened a plant centre selling rare plants. The centre has been a great success since it opened its doors a year ago.► see thesaurus at establish 6 shop/restaurant etc [intransitive] (also open up)BSTART DOING something to start business, letting in customers or visitors, at a particular time What time do the banks open? The bakery opens early.7 start an activitySTART something/MAKE something START [transitive] to start an activity, event, or set of actions The US attorney’s office has opened an investigation into the matter. An inquest into the deaths will be opened next week.8 computer [transitive] to make a document or computer program ready to use Click on this icon to open the File Manager.9 meeting/event [intransitive, transitive]START something/MAKE something START if a meeting etc opens or is opened in a particular way, it starts in that way Hughes, opening the Conference, made a dramatic plea for peace.open with The concert opens with Beethoven’s Egmont Overture.10 official ceremony [transitive]PGOSTART something/MAKE something START to perform a ceremony in which you officially state that a building is ready to be used The new County Hall building was officially opened by the King. 11 spread/unfold [intransitive, transitive]OPEN to spread something out or unfold something, or to become spread out or unfolded She opened her umbrella. John opened his hand to show her he wasn’t holding anything. The flowers only open during bright weather. I sat down and opened my book. She opened the curtains (=pulled the two curtains apart). Dave opened his arms (=stretched his arms wide apart) to give her a hug.12 make a way through [transitive]TTR to make it possible for cars, goods etc to pass through a place They were clearing away snow to open the tunnel. The peace treaty promises an end to war and opens the borders between the two countries.13 film/play etc [intransitive]START TO HAPPEN, EXIST ETC to start being shown to the public Paula and Rachael star as mother and daughter in the play, which opens tonight. The film opened yesterday to excellent reviews.► see thesaurus at start14 → open an account15 → open fire (on something)16 → open the door/way to something17 → open somebody’s eyes (to something)18 → open your mind (to something)19 → open your heart (to somebody)20 → the heavens opened → open the floodgates at floodgateGrammarOpen belongs to a group of verbs where the same noun can be the subject of the verb or its object. • You can say: She opened the door. In this sentence, ‘the door’ is the object of open.• You can say: The door opened. In this sentence, ‘the door’ is the subject of open.THESAURUSopen used about a door, window, container, package, letter, your eyes, or your mouthI opened the door quietly.She was nervous about opening the letter.Open your mouth wide.unlock to open a door, drawer, box etc with a keyYou need a key to unlock the safe.unscrew to open a lid on a bottle, container etc by turning itI carefully unscrewed the lid of the jar.force open to open a drawer, window, cupboard etc using forceThe door was locked so we had to force it open.unwrap to open a package by removing the paper that covers itThe children were busy unwrapping their Christmas presents.unfasten/undo to make something no longer fastened or tied, for example a seat belt or a piece of clothingHe unfastened the top button of his shirt.I was so full I had to undo my belt. → open onto/into something → open out → open up→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
open• Doors open 15 minutes before the start of each performance.• That window doesn't open.• Runyan plans to open a casino.• Police have opened an investigation into the girl's disappearance.• It provides start-up dialogues, macro dialogues and exit dialogues to open and close applications.• He opened and shut the drawers and the flap and found what he expected.• The animals were fasted for 24 hours and then their abdomen was opened and the stomach exposed under light ether anaesthesia.• After a short discussion with the customs officers, the gates opened and the truck moved off.• Ask the waiter to open another bottle of champagne.• Don't open another Coke - you can have the rest of mine.• Judy opened another pack of cigarettes.• On Saturdays, the restaurant opens at 7 p.m.• The moment before he had opened it, he had known what would be inside.• a little gadget that helps you to open jars• Andrew Lloyd Webber's new musical will open later this year.• The driver whipped round the front of the car and opened my door.• A permanent exhibition of Moore's work will open next year.• "What times do the banks open?" "Normally at around 9.30."• He opened the door wide, and gestured for me to come in.• Open the file called Templates.• Did you open the mail?• Heche opened the news conference by announcing his retirement.• It's very hot in here. Do you mind if I open the window?• How do you open this umbrella?• Open your books to page 63.• Aren't you going to open your letter?opened its doors• Casino, a re-creation of Manhattan in the desert that has just opened its doors.• In January 1966 Indica opened its doors.• The new meeting house opened its doors for worship almost exactly a year later; it had cost £3,366.• It opened its doors in 1888 as the Rindge Manual Training School.• CHELTENHAM/Gloucestershire Time allowed 01:06 Read in studio Britain's biggest motorway service station opened its doors this afternoon.• Social Washington also opened its doors to Joe.• St Hugh's opened its doors to men in nineteen eighty six.openopen3 noun 1 → in the open2 → (out) in the openExamples from the Corpus
open• the US OpenOpen, thethe OpenOpen, the one of the important international sports competitions, especially for golf, such as the British Open Championship and the US Open Championship, or for tennis, such as the French, US and Australian Open competitionsFrom Longman Business Dictionaryopenopen1 /ˈəʊpənˈoʊ-/ adjective [not before a noun]1COMMERCEif a shop, bank, restaurant etc is open, it is allowing customers to enter and is ready to serve themThe bank is open till 12.00 on Saturdays.The shop was open for business on every day of the year.2COMMERCEFINANCEif a financial market is open, buying and selling on it are possibleAmong Asian and Pacific markets that were open, stocks overall had a mixed performance.3COMMERCEif a country is open to foreign products, they can be sold there without restrictions such as high import taxesMany people think the country is far less open to foreign products than Europe or the US.4on the open marketCOMMERCE if something is sold on the open market, it is available for anyone to buyThe shares would be purchased on the open market or in privately negotiated transactions.5be open to offersCOMMERCE to be ready to consider people’s offers for something you are sellingThe company said it was open to offers from potential buyers. 6be open to discussion/negotiation if something is open to discussion, you can discuss it and suggest changesThe number of board seats they will have, like all other terms of the proposal, is open to negotiation.7in open courtLAW in a court of law where everything is publicI am giving this judgment in open court at the request of all parties.openopen2 verb1[intransitive]COMMERCE if a shop, office, financial market etc opens at a particular time, it starts business at that timeWhat time do the banks open?Oil prices softened $1 a barrel as European and Asian markets opened yesterday.2[intransitive, transitive]COMMERCE if a new business opens or is opened, someone starts itShe plans to open a chain of restaurants.3[intransitive]FINANCE if shares, bonds etc open at a particular price, they have that price when the financial market on which they are traded opens for businessPlatinum opened lower following Japanese sales of platinum overnight.4open your marketsCOMMERCE if a country opens its markets to foreign goods, it allows them to be sold there, or it reduces restrictions on themThe US and Europe would open their markets in agriculture and textiles to developing nations by cutting quotas and subsidies.5open an accountBANKING to start a new account at a financial institution, for example by putting money into itPrivate clients are asked to produce an initial deposit of at least $10,000 to open an account. → open up→ See Verb tableopenopen3 noun [singular] FINANCE the beginning of a trading session on a financial marketThe dollar was quoted at 116.77 yen, down slightly from 118.80 yen at the open.US wheat prices might slip at the open of trading today.Origin open1 Old English 