open — OET · Shobdo

open

adjective

1 the door's open:

not shut, not closed, unlocked, unbolted, unlatched, off the latch, unfastened, unbarred, unsecured;

ajar, wide open, agape, gaping, yawning.

▷antonyms shut, closed.

2 a blue silk shirt, open at the neck:

unfastened, not done up, undone, unbuttoned, unzipped, loose;

unbuckled, untied, unlaced.

3 the council used several tonnes of grit in a bid to keep the main roads open:

clear, passable, navigable, unblocked, free from obstructions, unobstructed;

snow-free, ice-free.

▷antonyms blocked.

4 an eighteenth-century farmhouse with lovely views over open countryside | her love of open spaces:

unenclosed, rolling, sweeping, extensive, wide, wide open, broad, unfenced, exposed, unsheltered;

spacious, airy, uncrowded, uncluttered;

undeveloped, unbuilt-up.

▷antonyms enclosed, built-up, developed.

5 a map of the area was open beside him:

spread out, unfolded, unfurled, unrolled, straightened out;

extended, stretched out.

▷antonyms closed, put away.

6 the shop is open daily:

open for business, open to the public.

▷antonyms shut, closed.

7 I could keep the position open for a week or two, to give you time to think:

available, vacant, free, unfilled, unoccupied;

informal on hold, up for grabs.

8 he criticized the system for being open to abuse:

at risk of, vulnerable, subject, susceptible, allowing of, permitting, liable, an easy target for, exposed, at the mercy of.

▷antonyms immune.

9 she was quite open about her feelings:

frank, candid, honest, forthright, direct, unreserved, blunt, plain-spoken, outspoken, free-spoken, downright, not afraid to call a spade a spade;

straightforward, genuine, natural, ingenuous, innocent, artless, transparent, guileless, simple;

communicative, forthcoming, uninhibited;

informal upfront;

archaic round.

▷antonyms secretive, deep, devious.

10 they eyed one another with open hostility:

overt, obvious, patent, manifest, palpable, conspicuous, plain, undisguised, unconcealed, unhidden, clear, noticeable, visible, apparent, evident;

blatant, flagrant, barefaced, brazen.

▷antonyms concealed.

11 the case is still open:

unresolved, not yet settled, yet to be settled, undecided, unsettled, up in the air;

open to debate, open for discussion, arguable, debatable, moot.

▷antonyms decided, concluded.

12 I'm keeping an open mind on the subject:

impartial, unbiased, unprejudiced, objective, disinterested, uncommitted, non-partisan, non-discriminatory, neutral, dispassionate, detached.

▷antonyms biased.

13 I'm always open to suggestions:

receptive, amenable, willing/ready/disposed to listen, responsive.

14 what other options are open to us?:

available, accessible, on hand, obtainable, on offer.

15 they are required by law to hold an open meeting:

public, general, unrestricted, non-exclusive, accessible to everyone, non-restrictive.

▷antonyms private.

verb

1 she opened the front door:

unfasten, unlatch, unlock, unbolt, unbar, unclick;

throw wide.

▷antonyms close, shut.

2 Katherine opened the parcel:

unwrap, undo, untie, unseal.

3 shall I open another bottle?:

uncork, broach, crack (open).

4 Adam opened the map:

spread out, unfold, unfurl, unroll, straighten out;

extend, stretch out.

▷antonyms close, fold up.

5 a statement in which he opened his heart as never before:

reveal, uncover, expose, lay bare, bare, pour out, exhibit, show, disclose, divulge.

6 we're hoping to open next month:

start trading, open for business, be ready for customers/visitors, admit customers, begin business, set up shop, put up one's plate;

North American, informal hang out one's shingle.

7 Sir Bryan opened the meeting by welcoming the Commissioner | the film opens with a long sex scene:

begin, start, initiate, set in motion, launch, get going, get under way, start/get/set the ball rolling, get off the ground;

inaugurate;

informal kick off, get the show on the road;

formal commence.

▷antonyms end, finish.

8 the lounge opens on to a terrace:

give access, give on to, lead, be connected, communicate with;

command a view of, face, overlook.

word links	open
agoraphobia fear of open places

open Oxford Dictionary of English