opened
opened — verb
1. for a meeting, discussion, or period of activity to start, or for someone to cau
for a meeting, discussion, or period of activity to start, or for someone to cause it to start
The sales conference opens with a keynote speech by the CEO.
open with + noun phrase for starting an event
The new semester opened on Monday with a welcome ceremony for students.
The judge opened the trial by asking the jury to stand and take an oath.
transitive: open + noun phrase (to start something)
The theater production opens on Friday night and runs through early May.
- open with a speech
- open a debate
- open the session
- open the proceedings
- open talks
Grammar Patterns
open + with + noun phrase
open + noun phrase
Usage Note
Frequently used with 'with' to describe how an event begins: The concert opened with a violin solo.
Common Mistakes
2. to appear on stage before the main performer or headliner in a concert or show,
to appear on stage before the main performer or headliner in a concert or show, as the first act
A local band called The Comets opened for the famous singer at the stadium.
open for + headliner/performer
Yael opened for the headliner during the European tour last summer.
The comedian opened the festival with a short stand-up set on the main stage.
transitive use: open + event
Hari opened the charity concert by playing two acoustic songs for the crowd.
- open for a band
- open a show
- open a concert
- open a festival
- support
British English; 'to support a band' means to open for them
- headline
to be the main performer that others open for
Grammar Patterns
open for + noun phrase (performer)
Usage Note
This sense is specific to entertainment: musicians, comedians, and performers. No passive construction is common.
3. to move a door, window, lid, or other object so that it no longer blocks an entr
to move a door, window, lid, or other object so that it no longer blocks an entrance, passage, or container
Christopher opened the window because the room was too hot and stuffy.
open + door/window/lid — physical object
Camila opened her eyes slowly when the morning sun came through the curtains.
The firefighter opened the locked gate with a heavy metal cutter.
Hana opened the umbrella as soon as she stepped outside and felt the rain.
The children opened the curtains to watch the snow falling on the street.
common collocation: open the curtains / blinds / shutters
- open the door
- open a window
- open your eyes
- open your mouth
- open a book
- open a bottle
- open the curtains
- open the gate
Grammar Patterns
open + noun phrase (object)
Usage Note
Frequently used with body parts (eyes, mouth, hands) as well as physical objects like doors, windows, containers, and books.
Common Mistakes
4. to cut, tear, or lift the covering of something such as a parcel, envelope, or b
to cut, tear, or lift the covering of something such as a parcel, envelope, or box so that you can see or reach what is inside
Obi opened the package carefully with a pair of kitchen scissors.
open + package/parcel/box — revealing contents
Élise opened the envelope and pulled out a handwritten letter from her aunt.
Mert opened the box of chocolates and offered one to each guest at the party.
Reema opened the can of beans using the kitchen tool her father had bought.
open + can/jar/bottle — using a tool
- open a package
- open a letter
- open a box
- open a parcel
- open a can
- open a jar
- open a bottle
- open mail
- open a present
Grammar Patterns
open + noun phrase (container or parcel)
Usage Note
Distinguish from sense 3: sense 3 is about moving a door or lid that is already attached; sense 4 is about removing or breaking a seal, wrapper, or lid to get to contents.
Common Mistakes
5. for a shop, restaurant, bank, or other business to be available and ready for cu
for a shop, restaurant, bank, or other business to be available and ready for customers to enter at a particular time of day
The bakery opens at seven in the morning so people can buy bread before work.
open + at + time (daily schedule)
Tuan waited outside the bookstore until it opened at half past nine.
The museum opens every day except Monday during the cold winter months.
The pharmacy opens on Sundays from ten o'clock until four in the afternoon.
open + on (day) + from (time) until (time)
- open at 9
- open on Sundays
- open from 9 to 5
- open for business
- open to the public
- open daily
- close
to stop being available for customers at the end of the day
Grammar Patterns
open + at/on (time)
Usage Note
Only businesses and services can be subjects. The subject is the establishment, not a person. For person-as-subject (the owner opening the shop), see sense 7.
Common Mistakes
6. for a person of authority, such as a mayor or director, to perform a formal cere
for a person of authority, such as a mayor or director, to perform a formal ceremony that declares a building, event, or facility ready to be used
The mayor opened the new public library with a short speech in the main hall.
authority figure + open + building — formal ceremony
The governor opened the art exhibition by cutting a red ribbon at the entrance.
Ambassador Yael opened the trade conference with a welcome address to delegates.
The school principal opened the new sports field during the annual sports day event.
passive possible: 'The bridge was opened by the president.'
- officially open
- formally open
- open a building
- open a hospital
- open a bridge
- open a museum
- open an exhibition
- cut the ribbon to open
- inaugurate
more formal; often used for major public buildings or political terms
- close
to formally end operations; 'close down' for permanent closure
Grammar Patterns
open + noun phrase (building or event)
Usage Note
Frequently used in the passive voice: 'The new airport was officially opened last week.' Subject must be a person in authority.
Common Mistakes
7. to create or establish something new that people can use, such as a business, a
to create or establish something new that people can use, such as a business, a service, a bank account, or an opportunity
Sari opened a savings account at the bank near her office last week.
open + bank account — common collocation
The company opened a new branch in the city center to reach more customers.
open + branch/office/restaurant — establishing a business location
The scholarship program opens new opportunities for students from poor families.
open + opportunity/possibility — abstract use
Eve and her partner opened a small restaurant on Harbor Street in June.
- open an account
- open a branch
- open a business
- open a restaurant
- open a shop
- open a new office
- open opportunities
- open a credit card
- open a file (at an institution)
Grammar Patterns
open + noun phrase (account, branch, opportunity)
Usage Note
Distinguish from sense 5: sense 5 is about daily business hours (the shop opens at 9). This sense is about creating or starting something new (open a shop = start a new business).
Common Mistakes
8. to give a command that makes a computer file, document, or program ready to be v
to give a command that makes a computer file, document, or program ready to be viewed, read, or used on screen
Mert opened the spreadsheet by double-clicking the icon on his desktop.
open + file by double-clicking — common computing action
Hana opened a new browser tab and typed her search into the address bar.
open + tab/window — browser interface vocabulary
The teacher asked the students to open the document and read the second page.
Eve opened the photo in the editing software to adjust the brightness and color.
- open a file
- open a document
- open a program
- open an app
- open a browser
- open a tab
- open a link
- open a folder
- open an attachment
- close
to exit a file, document, program, or tab
Grammar Patterns
open + noun phrase (file, document, program, tab)
Usage Note
The opposite is 'close' (to exit a file or program). In informal speech, people also say 'pull up' (open a document quickly) or 'launch' (open a program).
Common Mistakes
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: verb/3
These four verbs describe ways of making something accessible, but they differ in what is being moved or removed. Open is the most general word — you can open a door, a book, your eyes, or a bottle. Unlock specifically involves turning a key or releasing a lock mechanism; you unlock a door or a safe, but you do not unlock a jar. Unfasten means to undo a closure device like a latch, buckle, zipper, or button — it is more about releasing a fastener than creating a passage. Unseal is about breaking a seal, sticker, or adhesive closure, typically on letters, packages, or containers that have been sealed shut. In everyday use, open replaces all three whenever the context makes the method clear: 'Can you open this jar?' works even though you are technically breaking a seal.
Common collocations
Adverbs
- wide open
- half open
- fully open
- newly opened
- recently opened
Phrases
- open for business
- open to the public
- open the way for
- open the door to
- open up opportunities
- open a can of worms
- open Pandora's box
Prepositions
- open to
- open for
- open with
- open on
- open at
- open by
Etymology
The word 'open' comes from Old English 'openian', meaning to open or unclose. It traces further back to Proto-Germanic *upanōną, and is related to the Old English adjective 'open' (not closed, raised up). The computer sense (open a file) emerged in the 1960s with early operating systems.