Opened — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun phrase /ˈfī(-ə)r/

Meaning & Definition of Opened

Opened (verb)

  1. to move (something, such as a door) from a closed position
  2. to make available for entry or passage by turning back (something, such as a barrier) or removing (something, such as a cover or an obstruction)
  3. to make available for or active in a regular function
  4. to make available or possible
  5. to make plain or visible, disclose
  6. to open by cutting into
  7. to become less shy and speak more freely

Opened (noun)

  1. the phenomenon of combustion manifested in light, flame, and heat
  2. one of the four elements of the alchemists
  3. burning passion, ardor

Opened (phrase)

  1. to begin shooting at (someone or something)

Opened (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to change from a closed to an open position

    "please open the door to let the cat out"

    similar: unclosed
    related: unbarred, unbolted, unclasped, unfastened, unlatched, unlocked, unbuttoned, unclenched, unfolded, unfurled, unzipped, disengaged, released, slipped
    opposite: closed, shut
    near: barred, bolted, clasped, fastened, latched, locked, buttoned (up), zipped (up)

  2. to make passage through (something) possible by removing obstructions

    "we need to open this drain that's clogged with hair"

    similar: cleared, freed, unclogged, unplugged, unstopped
    related: eased, facilitated, loosened (up), smoothed
    opposite: blocked, clogged (up), closed, dammed (up), plugged (up), stopped
    near: constricted, encumbered, hampered, hindered, impeded, interfered (with), obstructed, trammeled, barricaded, blockaded

  3. to arrange the parts of (something) over a wider area

    "when we got too close, the cardinal opened its wings and flew to a higher branch"

    similar: expanded, extended, fanned (out), flared (out), outspread, outstretched, spread (out), stretched (out), unfolded, unfurled
    related: overspread
    opposite: closed, contracted, folded
    near: compacted, compressed, condensed, reduced

  4. to rid the surface of (as an area) from things in the way

    "snowplows opened the runway without much trouble"

    similar: cleared, freed, unblocked
    related: eased, facilitated, loosened (up), smoothed, unchoked, unclogged, unplugged, unstopped, uncluttered, stripped
    opposite: blocked
    near: clogged, closed, dammed, obstructed, plugged, stopped, cluttered (up)

  5. to take the first step in (a process or course of action)

    "we will open the proceedings tomorrow with a short ceremony"

    similar: began, commenced, embarked (on or upon), entered (into or upon), fell (to), got off, kicked off, launched, led off, started, struck (into), got going, got to, set about
    related: created, generated, inaugurated, initiated, innovated, invented, originated, adopted, embraced, took on, took up, established, fathered, founded, instituted, organized, pioneered, set up, spawned, got around (to), got down (to), got round (to)
    opposite: concluded, ended, finished, terminated
    near: ceased, desisted, discontinued, halted, knocked off, laid off, quit, stopped, closed, completed, abandoned, forsook, left, abolished, demolished, destroyed, exterminated, extinguished, phased out

Related Entry: Open (verb)

Open is a different word from Opened. The synonyms below are for open, not for opened.

  1. to change from a closed to an open position

    "please open the door to let the cat out"

    similar: unclose
    related: unbar, unbolt, unclasp, unfasten, unlatch, unlock, unbutton, unclench, unfold, unfurl, unzip, disengage, release, slip
    opposite: close, shut
    near: bar, bolt, clasp, fasten, latch, lock, button (up), zip (up)

  2. to make passage through (something) possible by removing obstructions

    "we need to open this drain that's clogged with hair"

    similar: clear, free, unclog, unplug, unstop
    related: ease, facilitate, loosen (up), smooth
    opposite: block, clog (up), close, dam (up), plug (up), stop
    near: constrict, encumber, hamper, hinder, impede, interfere (with), obstruct, trammel, barricade, blockade

  3. to arrange the parts of (something) over a wider area

    "when we got too close, the cardinal opened its wings and flew to a higher branch"

    similar: expand, extend, fan (out), flare (out), outspread, outstretch, spread (out), stretch (out), unfold, unfurl
    related: overspread
    opposite: close, contract, fold
    near: compact, compress, condense, reduce

  4. to rid the surface of (as an area) from things in the way

    "snowplows opened the runway without much trouble"

    similar: clear, free, unblock
    related: ease, facilitate, loosen (up), smooth, unchoke, unclog, unplug, unstop, unclutter, strip
    opposite: block
    near: clog, close, dam, obstruct, plug, stop, clutter (up)

  5. to take the first step in (a process or course of action)

    "we will open the proceedings tomorrow with a short ceremony"

    similar: begin, commence, embark (on or upon), enter (into or upon), fall (to), get off, kick off, launch, lead off, start, strike (into), get going, get to, set about
    related: create, generate, inaugurate, initiate, innovate, invent, originate, adopt, embrace, take on, take up, establish, father, found, institute, organize, pioneer, set up, spawn, get around (to), get down (to), get round (to)
    opposite: conclude, end, finish, terminate
    near: cease, desist, discontinue, halt, knock off, lay off, quit, stop, close, complete, abandon, forsake, leave, abolish, demolish, destroy, exterminate, extinguish, phase out

Related Entry: Opened (up) (verb)

Opened (up) is a different word from Opened. The synonyms below are for opened (up), not for opened.

  1. as in cleared, freed

    similar: cleared, freed, unblocked, unclogged, unplugged, unstopped, excavated, hollowed (out), scooped (out), emptied, lightened
    opposite: blocked, choked, clogged, clotted, congested, dammed, gummed (up), jammed, obstructed, occluded, plugged (up), stopped (up), stuffed, bunged, corked, spiled, stoppered, stoppled, filled, gridlocked, packed

  2. as in wanted, took

    similar: needed, took, wanted, warranted, favored, justified, supported, sustained, validated, admitted (of), allowed (of), permitted (of)
    opposite: closed out, disallowed, enjoined, excluded, forbade, negatived, precluded, ruled out

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Opened

The most common words with a similar meaning to Opened:

unclosed, cleared, freed, unclogged, unplugged, unstopped, expanded, extended, fanned (out), flared (out), outspread, outstretched, spread (out), stretched (out), unfolded, unfurled, unblocked, began, commenced, embarked (on or upon), entered (into or upon), fell (to), got off, kicked off, launched, led off, started, struck (into), got going, got to, set about

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Opened

Words with the opposite meaning of Opened:

closed, shut, blocked, clogged (up), dammed (up), plugged (up), stopped, contracted, folded, concluded, ended, finished, terminated

Related Words for Opened

unbarred, unbolted, unclasped, unfastened, unlatched, unlocked, unbuttoned, unclenched, unzipped, disengaged, released, slipped, eased, facilitated, loosened (up), smoothed, overspread, unchoked, uncluttered, stripped, created, generated, inaugurated, initiated, innovated, invented, originated, adopted, embraced, took on

Near Antonyms of Opened

barred, bolted, clasped, fastened, latched, locked, buttoned (up), zipped (up), constricted, encumbered, hampered, hindered, impeded, interfered (with), obstructed, trammeled, barricaded, blockaded, compacted, compressed, condensed, reduced, clogged, dammed, plugged, cluttered (up), ceased, desisted, discontinued, halted

Word Forms of Opened

Inflections: opening, fires, opened up, opening up, opens up, opened out, opening out, opens out

Derived words: openability (noun), openable (adjective), fireless (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Opened

Middle English, from Old English fȳr; akin to Old High German fiur fire, Greek pyr

First known use: before 12th centuryt

Frequently Asked Questions about Opened

What does "Opened" mean?

"Opened" means to move (something, such as a door) from a closed position. As an a verb, a noun and a phrase, it is defined as: to move (something, such as a door) from a closed position. It has 5 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Opened"?

Other words for "Opened" include unclosed, cleared, freed, unclogged, unplugged, unstopped, expanded and extended. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Opened" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Opened"?

There are 73 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Opened". Common alternatives include unclosed, cleared, freed, unclogged, unplugged, unstopped, expanded, extended, fanned (out) and flared (out).

What is the opposite of "Opened"?

Antonyms of "Opened" include closed, shut, blocked, clogged (up), dammed (up), plugged (up), stopped and contracted. Near antonyms include barred, bolted, clasped and fastened.

How do you use "Opened" in a sentence?

Examples of "Opened" in a sentence: "please open the door to let the cat out"; "we need to open this drain that's clogged with hair"; "when we got too close, the cardinal opened its wings and flew to a higher branch".

Is "Opened" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Opened" can be used as a verb, a noun and a phrase, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Opened"?

"Opened" is pronounced /ˈfī(-ə)r/.

What is the origin of the word "Opened"?

"Opened" comes from Middle English, from Old English fȳr; akin to Old High German fiur fire, Greek pyr. First known use: before 12th centuryt.