opened
/ˈəʊ.pən/ (bre, ipa) · [ˈopənd] /ˈoʊ.pən/ (ame, ipa) · [ˈopənd] /ˈō-pən -pᵊm/ (ame, mw)
opened — verb
- openedpresent simple I / you / we / they
- openeds3rd person singular
- openeding-ing form
- openededpast simple
1. to make a door, window, gate, eyes, or something similar stop being shut, or to
to make a door, window, gate, eyes, or something similar stop being shut, or to become like that.
Lena opened the kitchen window when the soup smelled too strong.
open + window/door/gate
The heavy gate opened slowly after the guard pressed the switch.
After the nap, the baby opened his eyes and smiled.
Please open the back door for the delivery driver.
At six sharp, the theater doors opened to the waiting crowd.
文法句型
open + door/window/gate
open + eyes
door/gate opens + adverb
用法筆記
Used for things that shut and then move apart, and also for body parts such as eyes. Distinguish from sense 4, which focuses on getting into a container or package.
常見錯誤
2. to start an event, activity, process, or period, or to make it start.
to start an event, activity, process, or period, or to make it start.
The chair opened the meeting with a short safety reminder.
open + meeting to start it formally
Classes open next Monday after the spring holiday.
A loud drumbeat opened the school play in the gym.
The judge opened the case at nine in the morning.
The festival opens tomorrow with a street parade downtown.
文法句型
open + meeting/case/discussion
festival/season opens + time
open with + activity
用法筆記
Can take a direct object when someone starts something formally, or no object when the event or period itself starts.
3. to go on stage first and entertain the audience before the headline performer ap
to go on stage first and entertain the audience before the headline performer appears.
A jazz trio opened for the singer at the riverside club.
open for + main act
Mina's band opened for Coldplay in Seoul last summer.
Before the headliner arrived, two local rappers opened the show.
A student choir opened before the orchestra took the main stage.
- headline
means to be the main act rather than the earlier one
文法句型
open for + singer/band
open the show
open with + short set
用法筆記
Common with 'open for' when naming the main performer. Distinguish from sense 2, where a person or thing starts an event rather than performing before the headline act.
常見錯誤
4. to cut, tear, lift, or remove part of a box, bag, or other container so you can
to cut, tear, lift, or remove part of a box, bag, or other container so you can reach what is inside.
Nina opened the parcel with scissors beside the front desk.
open + parcel/container
Dad opened the paint can and stirred it with a stick.
We opened the cereal box before the children woke up.
At customs, an officer opened my suitcase and checked the gifts.
The boy opened his lunchbox and found a note from Grandma.
文法句型
open + box/bag/parcel
open + can/bottle
open + suitcase/lunchbox
用法筆記
The object is something that holds contents inside. Distinguish from sense 1, where the focus is moving a door, window, or similar thing away from its shut position.
5. if a store, office, or similar place opens, it begins serving customers or worke
if a store, office, or similar place opens, it begins serving customers or workers for the day.
The bakery opens at six, so Rosa buys bread early.
open at + time for business
Our school library opens again after the lunch break.
The travel office opened late because the manager missed the train.
Most banks here open on Saturdays before the holiday season.
The clinic opens in ten minutes; patients are already waiting.
- start
broader and less tied to business hours
- begin trading
more formal and mostly used for shops or companies
文法句型
shop/office opens + time
open on + day
open after + event
用法筆記
The subject is the business or service place itself, usually with a time or day expression. Distinguish from sense 6, where a person officially starts a place or event.
常見錯誤
6. to formally announce the start or first use of a building, event, service, or pu
to formally announce the start or first use of a building, event, service, or public place.
The mayor opened the new bridge with a short speech.
important person + open + place/event
Queen Camilla opened the hospital wing last autumn.
A retired swimmer opened the youth games in Tainan.
The president opened the science fair before the school tour.
Dr. Chen opened the art center and thanked local donors.
- inaugurate
formal verb for officially starting a place, office, or event
- launch
common for new services, campaigns, and public projects
文法句型
open + bridge/building/service
open + fair/games/exhibition
open with + speech
用法筆記
The subject is usually the invited person who performs the ceremony, not the building or event itself. Distinguish from sense 5, where the place simply starts serving people.
常見錯誤
7. to let people use, enter, join, or benefit from something that was not available
to let people use, enter, join, or benefit from something that was not available to them before.
The city opened the old park to skateboarders after the repairs.
open + place + to + group
After the storm, the school opened its hall for local families.
open + building + for + purpose
The library opened weekend study rooms to high school students.
This visa rule opened more jobs to nurses from overseas.
The farm opened its walking path to visitors in April.
- allow
broader and less focused on making a place or service newly accessible
- make available
states the result clearly and fits services, information, or resources
- open up
slightly more informal and common in speech
文法句型
open + place/service/opportunity + to + group
open + building/room + for + purpose
open + jobs/classes/seats + to + people
用法筆記
Object is usually a place, service, or chance, and the sentence often adds who gets access with 'to' or what use it serves with 'for'. Distinguish from sense 5, where a business starts its daily hours, and sense 6, where someone leads an official ceremony.
常見錯誤
8. to make a computer file, page, or program appear so that you can read it or work
to make a computer file, page, or program appear so that you can read it or work with it.
Nora opened the budget file before the online meeting began.
open + file on a computer
I opened the map app to find a bus stop nearby.
open + app
During class, the teacher opened a new tab for the science video.
Sam opened the photo program to fix the dark picture.
Mia opened the report on her laptop after double-clicking the icon.
文法句型
open + file/document
open + app/program
open + tab/page on + device
用法筆記
Usually takes a digital object such as a file, app, page, or tab. Distinguish from adjective sense 4 in the merged entry: this sense names the action, while the adjective describes the state after the file or program is ready.
常見錯誤
opened — noun
1. the outside space or air, where you are not inside a building or under cover.
the outside space or air, where you are not inside a building or under cover.
After lunch, the children played in the open behind the school hall.
fixed phrase: in the open
The campers slept out in the open beside the lake.
fixed phrase: out in the open
By noon, the fish market moved from the tent into the open.
The old statue stood in the open through every winter storm.
Workers dried the rice in the open behind Mei's house.
- indoors
inside a building rather than outside
文法句型
in the open
out in the open
用法筆記
Usually appears as 'the open', especially in the phrases 'in the open' and 'out in the open'. Distinguish from adjective sense 3 in the other chunk, where 'open' describes a noun such as land or water instead of naming the outside space itself.
常見錯誤
opened — adjective
- openedpositive
- more openedcomparative
- most openedsuperlative
1. left unshut or undone, so that it is not blocking entry, air, or use.
left unshut or undone, so that it is not blocking entry, air, or use.
The back gate was left open, so the dog ran into the lane.
leave + gate open
Rain blew through the open kitchen window during the storm.
open + window
Mia noticed her school bag was open and her pens were missing.
Please keep the bathroom door open while the paint dries.
- unshut
direct but less common in everyday speech
- unfastened
better for clothes, bags, or straps than for doors and windows
文法句型
leave + door/window/gate open
be open
keep + noun + open
用法筆記
Usually describes something with a movable part that can be shut. Distinguish from sense 3, which is about a space having no full cover or enclosure at all.
2. already operating or set up, so people can use it or get service from it.
already operating or set up, so people can use it or get service from it.
The newly opened clinic serves three mountain villages each week.
newly opened + service
Is the school pool open yet, or are repairs still going on?
be open yet
The phone line stayed open all night for emergency calls.
Our gym is open again after the roof was repaired.
文法句型
be open
be open again
stay open for + noun
用法筆記
Subject is usually a place, service, or system. Distinguish from sense 5, where the focus is on vacancies or eligibility rather than whether something is operating now.
3. without full walls, a roof, or another cover around it, so it is exposed to the
without full walls, a roof, or another cover around it, so it is exposed to the air.
We ate lunch in an open shelter beside the lake.
open + shelter/space
The children slept on an open porch during the hot night.
An open truck carried vegetables to the market before sunrise.
The organizers chose an open stage because the festival was held outdoors.
文法句型
open + shelter/porch/stage
open + truck/cart
open to the air
用法筆記
Used for places or structures that are not surrounded or covered. Unlike sense 1, this sense is not mainly about something that can be shut and opened again.
4. shown on a computer or phone screen and ready for reading, editing, or another t
shown on a computer or phone screen and ready for reading, editing, or another task.
Keep the open map app on your phone while we walk.
open + app
Lena had three open tabs when the battery died.
open + tab
The report is open on my laptop, so I can check the numbers now.
Please save the file before you close any open documents.
文法句型
open + file/document
be open on + device
open + tab/app
用法筆記
Usually describes the state after a file or program has been loaded. Distinguish from verb sense 8 in the merged entry, which names the action of bringing it onto the screen.
5. still free for people to take, use, join, or apply for, or not limited to only o
still free for people to take, use, join, or apply for, or not limited to only one group.
There are still two open seats on Friday's baking class.
open + seat/space
The museum has an open position for a weekend guide.
open position
This prize is open to students from any public high school.
The 9 a.m. slot is open if you still want a dental check.
- available
closest general synonym for something free to use or take
- vacant
more specific to jobs, seats, rooms, or other empty places
- accessible
focuses more on who can reach or use something
- full
no spaces left
- taken
already chosen or occupied
- restricted
limited to fewer people
文法句型
open seat/position/slot
be open to + group
still open
用法筆記
Common with nouns for vacancies, spaces, or chances, and with 'open to' when many people are allowed to take part. Distinguish from sense 2, where a place or service is already operating.
6. known by other people and not kept private or hidden from view.
known by other people and not kept private or hidden from view.
The budget records are open, so any resident can read them online.
open records
The meeting stayed open to the press until the final vote.
open to the press
Police said the hearing would be open, not held in private.
The charity keeps an open list of all large donations.
- public
the clearest synonym when many people can see or know something
- transparent
often used for rules, government, or decision-making
文法句型
be open to the public
open records
open hearing/meeting
用法筆記
Often used where the question is who may see or know something. Distinguish from adjective/7 in the other chunk, which is about a person speaking frankly rather than about public access.
7. ready to speak directly about your feelings, plans, or problems instead of hidin
ready to speak directly about your feelings, plans, or problems instead of hiding them.
Lina was open about her debt when the bank officer asked.
be open about + topic
The company stayed open with staff about next year's job cuts.
be open with + person
After the crash, Omar was open about feeling scared to drive.
Unlike his brother, Ravi is open with friends about family problems.
At the press dinner, the coach was open about his mistake.
- frank
direct and honest, often a little stronger in tone
- candid
slightly more formal and common in serious conversations
- upfront
informal and often used for clear early disclosure
- forthcoming
often used when someone willingly gives information
文法句型
be open about + noun
be open about + -ing
be open with + person
用法筆記
Usually follows a linking verb and often adds 'about' for the subject being discussed or 'with' for the listener. Distinguish from sense 6 in the other chunk, where facts are public rather than frankly shared by a person.
常見錯誤
8. not fixed yet, so people may still discuss it, choose between options, or change
not fixed yet, so people may still discuss it, choose between options, or change it later.
The return date is still open because Leo has not booked flights.
be open for an undecided matter
After two meetings, the board left the budget question open.
leave + noun + open
Mina kept her summer plans open until the exam results came.
Since both schools accepted him, Daniel kept his final choice open.
The judge left one part of the agreement open for review.
文法句型
be open
remain open
leave + noun + open
keep + noun + open
用法筆記
Common with dates, plans, choices, prices, and legal questions that have not been settled. Distinguish from sense 7, which describes frank speech, not an undecided result.