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open

open

∞ 1.0
Willing to consider new ideas
  • adjective
  • /ˈoʊpən/
: abierto
  • And we're willing to say we're wide open about everything.
  • open-minded
  • an open mind
  • open and honest

It's really hard to be as open as Trish is, OK.

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Examples

  • I mean, are you open about it?

  • I really wish I could be more open about how I feel.

  • Are they at all open to new ideas?

  • Take those next steps with an open heart and an open mind.

  • How do you feel about me being so open on social media?

  • But I think the time has come for you to be more open with us.

  • Whatever your approach, keep an open mind about who might work well.

    Academic text (2015)
  • So thank you, Amy, for being open and honest and vulnerable.

  • Parents also may tend to become more open and less involved in their children's lives.

    Academic text (2008)
  • Are they at all open to new ideas?

Synonyms

open-minded
vsopen
172 3.7

Ready to listen to new ideas and accept different views

also implies being honest frank or public in communication
candid
vsopen
83 4.6

Open and honest, telling the truth even when it is hard

also covers readiness to consider new ideas, not just frankness
forthcoming
vsopen
50 4.9

Ready to talk and share information

is broader, adding willingness to consider ideas and truthful behaviour
receptive
vsopen
50 4.1

Willing to listen to and accept new ideas

also suggests honesty and frankness in speech or action

Antonyms

75 4.9

A person who does not tell others about their plans or feelings

16 5.2

Not willing to accept new ideas or different opinions

Idioms

87 2.5

In public and not hidden so other people can see or hear

85 3.7

Make someone understand something they did not know before

open arms
  • Informal
37 2.8

A warm, eager welcome

eyes wide open
  • Informal
21 4.3

To act while fully aware of possible risks

Acting while fully aware of what could go wrong

11 7.7

To create many unexpected problems that are hard to control

7 7.4

Create a difficult situation with many unexpected problems

Stay half awake and watch for danger while you sleep because you are afraid

open sesame
  • Literature
2 8.6

A magic word that gives easy access or success

2 9.9

To attack or punish someone suddenly and violently, often for something they did

Watch carefully for danger or a chance

Create new ways to make progress or grow

to open the kimono
  • Offensive
1 9.9

To show a company's private information to others, often during business talks

1 3.7

Stay alert to hear useful news or information

To not pay attention and miss what is happening around you, for example because you are daydreaming

Waste effort arguing about something everyone already agrees with

To avoid choosing now so other choices remain

To try to make something happen when it is already easy or people already agree

To cause a lot of trouble and anger among people

Compounds

142 2.3

Completely open and available with nothing stopping access

102 1.1

Completely open with nothing closed or covering it

open-source
  • Specialized
77 3.7

Software that has code anyone can read, change, and share

43 2.7

An event when people are invited to visit and feel welcome

32 1.0

Outside in a place that is not covered

20 4.1

A time when an activity is allowed, often for hunting or fishing

open book
  • Informal
20 3.5

A person whose feelings and thoughts are easy to understand

open letter
  • Literature
19 4.0

A letter written to one person but published for everyone to read to make people notice a problem

19 3.8

Very clear and easy to decide or solve

19 3.9

An event where people take turns performing music, poetry, or comedy

18 1.2

A large area of land without buildings or trees used for play

18 2.1

Taking place outside and not under a roof

open-heart surgery
  • Specialized
17 4.4

An operation where doctors open the chest to operate on the heart

15 4.3

An agreement to get goods or services now and pay later

A conversation where people share ideas honestly without holding back

12 3.3

A practice of letting people come in and speak freely to leaders

open society
  • Formal
10 5.1

A community where people can speak freely, join groups, and vote

10 6.2

A marriage in which both partners allow each other to have sex with other people

Anyone is welcome to join or take part

open secret
  • Informal
7 4.0

Something people try to hide but many already know

open fracture
  • Specialized
6 5.4

A broken bone that sticks out through a cut in the skin

open primary
  • Literature
5 6.4

An early election before the main vote where any registered voter can vote for candidates of only one party

A way of letting people talk freely to those in charge

4 4.1

A room with few dividing walls that makes one big space

A market that takes place outdoors where stalls sell food and other goods

A way of allowing foreign companies to trade on the same terms as local companies

2 4.3

Not strictly controlled, so illegal things can happen

A single slice of bread with toppings served without a top slice

A piece of bread with toppings and no top slice

2 7.2

A way to let many countries trade equally with one country, used for China in the late 1800s

2 3.5

A British university that offers part-time online and distance courses for adults, often without usual entry rules

A shirt with the top button undone at the neck

open circuit
  • Specialized
1 4.6

A broken electrical path that stops electric current

A space in a wall where you make an open fire to heat or cook in a room

open shop
  • Jargon
1 5.2

A workplace where workers do not have to join a union or pay its fees

open-angle glaucoma
  • Specialized
1 5.2

A common eye disease that slowly reduces side vision when eye fluid cannot drain

open-hearth
  • Archaic
1 9.5

Steel that people make by heating iron in a large furnace

open weave
  • Specialized
1 4.5

A fabric with threads placed far apart so small holes let light and air through

open order
  • Specialized
1 8.0

Soldiers standing with wide spaces between ranks so an officer can walk between them for inspection

open sight
  • Specialized
1 7.3

A simple part on a gun with an open notch for aiming

open-end fund
  • Specialized
1 6.9

A company that sells and buys shares directly at their daily price

1 8.1

A large hot oven that makes steel by heating metal on a shallow bed with flames above

open-end credit
  • Specialized
1 6.2

A borrowing plan that lets you borrow up to a set limit and use it again as you repay

open vowel
  • Specialized
1 5.7

A vowel sound made with the tongue low in the mouth

An outdoor place where people sell food and crafts

A warm welcome you give by opening your arms to hold someone

open-end wrench
  • Specialized
1 4.5

A tool with two flat open jaws that grip nuts or bolts

open syllable
  • Specialized
1 5.3

A syllable that ends with a vowel sound and usually has a long vowel

1 8.1

A company that sells and buys back shares any time at a price based on its assets

open interval
  • Specialized
1 8.2

A set of numbers between two points that does not include the end points

1 8.2

A way of making steel by melting iron and scrap metal in a large open furnace

open chain
  • Specialized
7.2

A chain of atoms in a molecule whose ends do not join to make a ring

open frame
  • Jargon
7.1

A frame in which a player fails to knock down all the pins with two rolls

open-class word
  • Specialized
7.4

A type of word that often gets new words, like nouns and verbs

A warm, friendly welcome that makes guests feel wanted

How Open

outspoken
80 4.2
open
∞ 1.0
frank
106 3.4
reserved
29 3.7
closed
60 4.1

Surface Forms

open positive
opener comparative
openest superlative

Etymology

Open comes from an old German word meaning 'not closed'. If someone is open to new ideas, they do not keep their mind shut, so they listen and share honestly.