2open verb
opens; opened; open·ing 1 a [+ obj] : to move (a door, window, etc.) so that an opening is no longer covered
▪ This door is hard to open. ▪ “Open the door!” shouted the police officer. ▪ Would you mind if I opened a window? ▪ Let's open (up) the curtains and let in some sunlight.
b [no obj] : to move and no longer cover an opening
▪ The car door opened and a beautiful woman stepped out. ▪ The door opened and closed so quietly that I didn't notice he had come in the room. ▪ This drawer is stuck. It just won't open! ◊The opposite of open is close in every sense except sense 10. 2 [+ obj] : to cause (something) to no longer be covered, sealed, or blocked
▪ It's time to open (up) your birthday presents! ▪ open a can/box/jar ▪ She comes home, turns on the TV, and starts opening her mail. ▪ The janitor opens the building [=unlocks the doors of the building] at 7 o'clock. ▪ The city only opened (up) this street to cars five years ago. 3 : to separate the parts or edges of something [+ obj] ▪ Open (up) your books to page 27. ▪ She opened her eyes and smiled at me. ▪ I opened my umbrella and stepped out into the rain. ▪ “Open your mouth wide for me,” said the dentist. ▪ You haven't opened your mouth [=you have not said anything] since you've been here. [no obj] ▪ “Open wide,” said the dentist. ▪ His eyes opened slowly. ▪ I can't get this suitcase to open. ▪ The roses are starting to open (up). 4 : to make a hole or opening in (something) [+ obj] ▪ The surgery requires opening (up) the patient's chest. [no obj] ▪ The heavens opened [=it began to rain] and the rain poured down. = The heavens opened up and the rain poured down. 5 : to allow (a park, road, etc.) to be used [+ obj] ▪ The town opened the road again 10 days after the flood. ▪ They've finally opened the bridge (up) to traffic again. [=allowed cars to use the bridge again] [no obj] ▪ The park opens every morning at dawn. 6 a : to begin the regular services or activities of (a business, school, etc.) [+ obj] ▪ We'll be opening (up) the café an hour early tomorrow morning. [no obj] ▪ The café will be opening (up) an hour early tomorrow morning. ▪ What time does the library open? ▪ The store opens at 9 a.m. on Saturdays.
b : to begin the activities or services of (a business, school, etc.) for the first time [+ obj] ▪ I've always dreamed of opening (up) a restaurant. ▪ a newly opened elementary school [no obj] ▪ They're building a drugstore, which is scheduled to open in May. ▪ We opened for business in 1955. ▪ The play opens [=begins being performed] next week. ▪ The film/movie opens [=begins being shown in movie theaters] nationwide later this month. 7 : to begin (something) [+ obj] ▪ The police have opened an inquiry/investigation into the matter. = The police have opened (up) an inquiry/investigation into the matter. ▪ We plan to open negotiations with the other side. ▪ a way of opening debate/discussion on the issue ▪ Let's open the bidding for this beautiful painting at $2,000. ▪ Her most famous poem opens the new collection. [=it is the first poem in the new collection] ▪ He always opens his speeches with a joke. ▪ It's traditional to open baseball games with the national anthem. ▪ She opened the meeting by thanking everyone for coming. [no obj] ▪ The song opens with a single voice singing a haunting melody. ▪ The novel opens (up) with a description of a small apartment. ▪ He always opens with a joke. 8 [+ obj] : to begin keeping money in (an account at a bank)
▪ I opened (up) a new savings account at a different bank. 9 [+ obj] computers : to begin to use (a file, document, or program) on a computer
▪ opening (up) a new document/file ▪ Open the program by double-clicking on the icon. 10 always followed by an adverb or preposition [no obj] : to allow movement or passage through a doorway or other opening
▪ The hallway opens (up) into a large family room. ▪ A porch opens off the kitchen. = The kitchen opens onto a porch. — often + out ▪ Their bedroom opens out onto the backyard. 11 [no obj] : to have a specified price or be at a specified level at the beginning of the day
▪ The stock opened at $19 a share and closed at $22. ▪ Stocks opened weak but closed strong.
▪ This door is hard to open. ▪ “Open the door!” shouted the police officer. ▪ Would you mind if I opened a window? ▪ Let's open (up) the curtains and let in some sunlight.
b [no obj] : to move and no longer cover an opening
▪ The car door opened and a beautiful woman stepped out. ▪ The door opened and closed so quietly that I didn't notice he had come in the room. ▪ This drawer is stuck. It just won't open! ◊The opposite of open is close in every sense except sense 10.
▪ It's time to open (up) your birthday presents! ▪ open a can/box/jar ▪ She comes home, turns on the TV, and starts opening her mail. ▪ The janitor opens the building [=unlocks the doors of the building] at 7 o'clock. ▪ The city only opened (up) this street to cars five years ago.
b : to begin the activities or services of (a business, school, etc.) for the first time [+ obj] ▪ I've always dreamed of opening (up) a restaurant. ▪ a newly opened elementary school [no obj] ▪ They're building a drugstore, which is scheduled to open in May. ▪ We opened for business in 1955. ▪ The play opens [=begins being performed] next week. ▪ The film/movie opens [=begins being shown in movie theaters] nationwide later this month.
▪ I opened (up) a new savings account at a different bank.
▪ opening (up) a new document/file ▪ Open the program by double-clicking on the icon.
▪ The hallway opens (up) into a large family room. ▪ A porch opens off the kitchen. = The kitchen opens onto a porch. — often + out ▪ Their bedroom opens out onto the backyard.
▪ The stock opened at $19 a share and closed at $22. ▪ Stocks opened weak but closed strong.
open doors for
: to give special opportunities to (someone)
▪ Being the daughter of the famous actor opened doors for her in Hollywood.
▪ Being the daughter of the famous actor opened doors for her in Hollywood.
open fire
: to begin shooting
▪ A man opened fire in a crowded mall. ▪ The soldiers opened fire on [=began shooting at] enemy troops.
▪ A man opened fire in a crowded mall. ▪ The soldiers opened fire on [=began shooting at] enemy troops.
open for [phrasal verb]
open for (someone or something) : to perform before (the main performer at a concert, show, etc.)
▪ One of my favorite comedians is opening for the band on their current tour.
▪ One of my favorite comedians is opening for the band on their current tour.
open out
[phrasal verb] Brit : to become less shy and speak more freely
▪ He began to open out [=open up] about an hour into our date. — see also 2open 10 (above)
▪ He began to open out [=open up] about an hour into our date. — see also 2open 10 (above)
open someone's eyes — see 1eye
open the door or open the way
: to make (something) easier or more likely to happen — often + for or to ▪ Her success opened the door for thousands of young women who wanted to play sports. ▪ The court ruling opened the way for similar cases. ▪ His experiences in the army opened the door to a career in politics. ▪ It has opened the way to real progress.
open to [phrasal verb] 1 open (something) to (someone or something) : to allow (a particular group of people) to enter, use, or participate in (something)
▪ He opens his home to anyone who needs a place to stay. ▪ This year, we've opened the contest to all children under the age of 16. ▪ They decided to open the meeting to the general public. 2 open (someone or something) to (something) : to cause or allow (someone or something) to be affected by (something bad, such as criticism)
▪ Their actions have opened the government to charges of corruption. ▪ By being secretive about her past, she opens herself (up) to political attacks. [=she makes herself open to political attacks]
▪ He opens his home to anyone who needs a place to stay. ▪ This year, we've opened the contest to all children under the age of 16. ▪ They decided to open the meeting to the general public.
▪ Their actions have opened the government to charges of corruption. ▪ By being secretive about her past, she opens herself (up) to political attacks. [=she makes herself open to political attacks]
open up [phrasal verb] 1 : to become less shy and speak more freely
▪ She tried to get the patient to open up to her about his problems. ▪ He finally began opening up to her. 2 : to begin shooting
▪ The ships opened up with heavy gunfire. ▪ The enemy opened up [=opened fire] on us with automatic rifles. 3 — used to demand that someone who is inside a room, building, etc., let you in ▪ This is the police! Open up! 4 open up or open up (something) or open (something) up a : to become or cause (something) to become available or possible
▪ It seemed that the whole world was opening up for me. [=it seemed that anything was possible] ▪ Once he had his degree, many new opportunities opened up for him. ▪ This discovery opens up the possibility of new research. ▪ The government opened up the land for settlement. ▪ People opened up their homes to those affected by the tragedy. [=they invited those affected by the tragedy to stay in their homes]
b : to become or cause (something) to become wider or less crowded
▪ At the bottom of the hill, the forest/landscape opens up to reveal a beautiful valley. ▪ It looks like the road/traffic opens up ahead. ▪ a drug that opens up the blood vessels
c : to develop or cause (something) to develop
▪ A wide gap in the polls has opened up between the two candidates. ▪ The team won after opening up a 20-point lead in the game. ▪ This opens up an important question: why did it happen?
▪ She tried to get the patient to open up to her about his problems. ▪ He finally began opening up to her.
▪ The ships opened up with heavy gunfire. ▪ The enemy opened up [=opened fire] on us with automatic rifles.
▪ It seemed that the whole world was opening up for me. [=it seemed that anything was possible] ▪ Once he had his degree, many new opportunities opened up for him. ▪ This discovery opens up the possibility of new research. ▪ The government opened up the land for settlement. ▪ People opened up their homes to those affected by the tragedy. [=they invited those affected by the tragedy to stay in their homes]
b : to become or cause (something) to become wider or less crowded
▪ At the bottom of the hill, the forest/landscape opens up to reveal a beautiful valley. ▪ It looks like the road/traffic opens up ahead. ▪ a drug that opens up the blood vessels
c : to develop or cause (something) to develop
▪ A wide gap in the polls has opened up between the two candidates. ▪ The team won after opening up a 20-point lead in the game. ▪ This opens up an important question: why did it happen?
open your bowels — see bowel
open your doors — see door
open your heart
: to behave in a kind and generous way
▪ We were asked to open our hearts and our wallets. [=we were asked to be generous and give money] — often + to ▪ Please, open your hearts to these poor people. They desperately need your help.
▪ We were asked to open our hearts and our wallets. [=we were asked to be generous and give money] — often + to ▪ Please, open your hearts to these poor people. They desperately need your help.
open your mind
: to become able to understand different ideas or ways of thinking
▪ She encourages her students to open their minds and try to see things from new perspectives. — often + to ▪ Traveling in Africa opened my mind to a completely different way of life. ▪ Open your mind to the possibility that you both may be right.
▪ She encourages her students to open their minds and try to see things from new perspectives. — often + to ▪ Traveling in Africa opened my mind to a completely different way of life. ▪ Open your mind to the possibility that you both may be right.
— open·able 
/ˈoʊpənəbəl/ adjective
▪ an openable window
/ˈoʊpənəbəl/ adjective ▪ an openable window
