Home›Browse›O›open wateropen wateropen wateropen water — nounnoun1. water with no obstacles blocking movement or view1.nounB2Definitionwater with no obstacles blocking movement or viewExampleOnce the boat passed the rocks, it reached open water.reached open waterThe ferry needs enough open water to turn safely.enough open waterView 2 more examplesFrom the top of the cliff, we could see miles of open water.miles of open waterAfter a narrow channel, open water appeared ahead of the crew.open water appeared aheadCommon collocationsreach open watersail into open waterout on open watera stretch of open wateropen water aheadSynonymsclear waterstresses that nothing blocks movement or viewunobstructed watermore formal and descriptiveAntonymsblocked channela water passage where movement is obstructedGrammar Patternsreach open waterout on open watera stretch of open wateropen water aheadUsage NoteOften used when boats, swimmers, or observers move from a narrow or obstructed area into a clear stretch of water.Common MistakesIncorrect: 'The boat sailed into an open water.' Correct: 'The boat sailed into open water.' In this meaning, the phrase is normally uncountable.Common collocationsNounsboatferrychannelrockscrewPhrasesreach open watersail into open waterout on open watera stretch of open wateropen water aheadPrepositionsinintoonEtymologyFirst known use16251625, in the meaning defined above