Added 7 October 2026
open
/ˈəʊ.pən/ adjective
In Latin: apertus Wiktionary
adjective Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about open at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
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Physically unobstructed, uncovered, etc. Able to have something pass through or along it.
Come in – the door's open.
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Able to have something pass through or along it.
Come in – the door's open.
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Not covered, sealed, etc.; having an opening or aperture showing what is inside.
The jewellery box was lying open.
verb
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To make or become physically unobstructed, uncovered, etc. To make or become accessible or clear for passage by moving from a shut position.
Turn the doorknob to open the door.
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To make or become accessible or clear for passage by moving from a shut position.
Turn the doorknob to open the door.
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To make or become clear by removal of objects and obstructions, so as to allow passage, access, or visibility.
The icebreaker opened the channel.
noun
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Open or unobstructed space; an exposed location.
I can't believe you left the lawnmower out in the open when you knew it was going to rain this afternoon!
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Public knowledge or scrutiny; full view.
We have got to bring this company's corrupt business practices into the open.
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A defect in an electrical circuit preventing current from flowing.
The electrician found the open in the circuit after a few minutes of testing.
Origin
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.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)