What does “open” mean?
- 1
verbto move something so that it is no longer closed
Could you open the window, please?
- 2
adjectivenot closed, so people or things can go in or out
The door was open, so I walked in.
- 3
adjectiveready for business or visitors
The museum is open until six.
Open at a glance
- Part of speech
- verb & adjective
- CEFR level
- A1 (beginner)
- Pronunciation
- /ˈoʊpən/ · OH-pun
How to use “open” correctly
The adjective is “open,” not “opened”: “The shop is open,” not “The shop is opened.”
Common phrases with “open”
- open the door
- open late
- open to sb
- in the open air
Synonyms, opposites and related words
Antonyms (opposite meaning)
- close
- closed
- shut
Word family
- opening
- openly
- opener
Idioms with “open”
- Open a can of worms: To start dealing with something that creates many new, complicated problems.
“open” is on these word lists
Learn these words next
- begin verbA1to start doing something or to start happening
- break verbA1to make something separate into pieces or stop working
- bring verbA1to take someone or something with you to a place
- build verbA1to make a building or other structure by putting parts together
- change verbA1to become different, or make someone or something different
- check verbA1to look at something to see if it is correct, safe or as it should be
- close verbA1to shut something, or to stop being open
- come verbA1to move toward the speaker or the place being talked about