open
- 01 A1 Beginner
adj.not closed or blocked, allowing people or things to go through.
adj.physically unobstructed or uncovered; allowing passage or access.
Simple“Please leave the door open so the cat can come inside.”
In context“The heavy gates remained open throughout the day to facilitate the delivery of construction materials to the site.”
- 02 A1 Beginner
adj.ready for customers to enter or for work to happen.
adj.available for business, use, or public access during specified hours.
Simple“Is the pharmacy still open at this time of night?”
In context“The museum is open to the public daily, though certain galleries may be restricted during private events.”
- 03 B1 Intermediate
adj.honest and willing to talk about your thoughts or feelings.
adj.transparent and candid in communication; not secretive or hidden.
Simple“They have a very open relationship and talk about everything.”
In context“The manager encouraged an open dialogue during the meeting, insisting that every team member share their concerns without fear of reprisal.”
- 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.not yet finished or decided.
adj.unresolved or not yet finalised; subject to further discussion or change.
Simple“The date for the wedding is still open because we haven't found a place.”
In context“Whether the policy will be implemented this year remains an open question, as the budget has not yet been approved.”
Synonyms - 05 A1 Beginner
v.to move something like a door or a lid so that it is no longer closed.
v.to move a door, lid, or similar barrier from a closed position to allow access.
Simple“He opened the window to let some fresh air into the room.”
In context“She carefully opened the ancient manuscript, mindful of the fragile parchment that had been sealed for centuries.”
- 06 B1 Intermediate
v.to begin a meeting, a show, or a new business.
v.to formally begin or inaugurate an event, session, or commercial enterprise.
Simple“The mayor will open the new hospital on Monday morning.”
In context“The chairman opened the annual general meeting by thanking the shareholders for their continued support during the fiscal year.”
- 07 B1 Intermediate
n.a competition that anyone can enter, including both professionals and amateurs.
n.a sporting competition in which both professional and amateur players are eligible to compete.
Simple“She is practicing hard for the tennis Open next month.”
In context“Winning the national Open was the highlight of his career, especially as he was still considered an amateur at the time.”
Synonyms - 08 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a place or situation where everyone can see what is happening.
n.a state of being public or visible; often used in the phrase 'in the open'.
Simple“It is better to discuss these problems in the open rather than keeping secrets.”
In context“Once the scandal was out in the open, the company had no choice but to issue a formal apology to its customers.”
Usage open the door · open new · open letter
Adjective from Middle English open, from Old English open (“open”), from Proto-West Germanic opan, from Proto-Germanic upanaz (“open”), from Proto-Indo-European *upo (“up from under, over”). Cognates * Scots apen (“open”) * Saterland Frisian eepen (“open”) * West Frisian iepen (“open”) * Cimbrian offe (“open”) * Dutch open (“open”) * German offen (“open”) * Vilamovian ufa, uffa (“open”) * Yiddish אָפֿן (ofn, “open”) * Danish åben (“open”) * Icelandic opinn (“open”) * Norwegian Bokmål åpen (“open”) * Norwegian Nynorsk open (“open”) * Swedish öppen (“open”) Compare also Latin supinus (“on one's back, supine”), Albanian hap (“to open”). Related to up. Verb from Middle English openen, from Old English openian (“to open”), from Proto-West Germanic opanōn, from Proto-Germanic upanōną (“to raise; lift; open”), from Proto-Germanic *upanaz (“open”, adjective). Cognate with Saterland Frisian eepenje (“to open”), West Frisian iepenje (“to open”), Dutch openen (“to open”), German öffnen (“to open”), Danish åbne (“to open”), Swedish öppna (“to open”), Norwegian Bokmål åpne (“to open”), Norwegian Nynorsk and Icelandic opna (“to open”). Related to English up. Noun from Middle English open (“an aperture or opening”), from the verb. In the sports sense, however, a shortening of “open competition”.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.