# open

/ˈoʊpən/ (US) · /ˈəʊpən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/open
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. not closed

adjective · CEFR A1

not closed or blocked, allowing people or things to go through.

For teachers: physically unobstructed or uncovered; allowing passage or access.

- Please leave the door open so the cat can come inside.
- The heavy gates remained open throughout the day to facilitate the delivery of construction materials to the site.

### 2. ready for business

adjective · CEFR A1

ready for customers to enter or for work to happen.

For teachers: available for business, use, or public access during specified hours.

- Is the pharmacy still open at this time of night?
- The museum is open to the public daily, though certain galleries may be restricted during private events.

### 3. honest and clear

adjective · CEFR B1

honest and willing to talk about your thoughts or feelings.

For teachers: transparent and candid in communication; not secretive or hidden.

- They have a very open relationship and talk about everything.
- The manager encouraged an open dialogue during the meeting, insisting that every team member share their concerns without fear of reprisal.

### 4. not yet decided

adjective · CEFR B2

not yet finished or decided.

For teachers: unresolved or not yet finalised; subject to further discussion or change.

- The date for the wedding is still open because we haven't found a place.
- Whether the policy will be implemented this year remains an open question, as the budget has not yet been approved.

### 5. to unfasten or move

verb · CEFR A1

to move something like a door or a lid so that it is no longer closed.

For teachers: to move a door, lid, or similar barrier from a closed position to allow access.

- He opened the window to let some fresh air into the room.
- She carefully opened the ancient manuscript, mindful of the fragile parchment that had been sealed for centuries.

### 6. to start an event

verb · CEFR B1

to begin a meeting, a show, or a new business.

For teachers: to formally begin or inaugurate an event, session, or commercial enterprise.

- The mayor will open the new hospital on Monday morning.
- The chairman opened the annual general meeting by thanking the shareholders for their continued support during the fiscal year.

### 7. a sports tournament

noun · CEFR B1

a competition that anyone can enter, including both professionals and amateurs.

For teachers: a sporting competition in which both professional and amateur players are eligible to compete.

- She is practicing hard for the tennis Open next month.
- Winning the national Open was the highlight of his career, especially as he was still considered an amateur at the time.

### 8. public view

noun · CEFR B2

a place or situation where everyone can see what is happening.

For teachers: a state of being public or visible; often used in the phrase 'in the open'.

- It is better to discuss these problems in the open rather than keeping secrets.
- Once the scandal was out in the open, the company had no choice but to issue a formal apology to its customers.

## Examples

- The window is open and the room is cold.
- The shop is open from nine to five every day except Sunday.
- The architect designed the house with an open floor plan to ensure that natural light could reach every corner of the living space.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.