1
as in unlocks
to change from a closed to an open position
please open the door to let the cat out
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in clears
to make passage through (something) possible by removing obstructions
we need to open this drain that's clogged with hair
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in expands
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in frees
to rid the surface of (as an area) from things in the way
snowplows opened the runway without much trouble
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in begins
to take the first step in (a process or course of action)
we will open the proceedings tomorrow with a short ceremony
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of opens
As the movie opens, their four children and a couple of dozen friends join them for a 25th wedding anniversary party in the backyard.
—
Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 27 Oct. 2025
This opens exciting avenues for understanding virus emergence, assessing pandemic potential, and identifying new drug targets to combat viral infections.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 27 Oct. 2025
Get Morning Squawk directly in your inbox CNBC's Morning Squawk recaps the biggest stories investors should know before the stock market opens, every weekday morning.
—Alex Harring, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2025
The single entrance opens into the living area, which contains a very compact spot for a sofa or chair, with two skylights above to help maximize natural light inside.
—New Atlas, 27 Oct. 2025
The city’s newest dessert shop opens this fall and will offer treats with a halal twist.
—Isabel Rivera, Miami Herald, 27 Oct. 2025
The story opens at Kyoto’s Tenryu-ji Temple, where 292 participants gather for the first battle — a vast, night-long melee staged without digital enhancement.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 27 Oct. 2025
The festival opens on October 31 with Stéphane Demoustier’s The Great Arch, starring Claes Bang as late idiosyncratic architect Johan Otto von Spreckelsen, and closes on November 9 with Kent Jones’ Late Fame, starring Willem Dafoe and Greta Lee.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 27 Oct. 2025
The album opens with Allen's move to New York with her daughters Ethel and Marnie, where she is pushed by her partner to buy a brownstone.
—Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 27 Oct. 2025
Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 27 Oct. 2025
This opens exciting avenues for understanding virus emergence, assessing pandemic potential, and identifying new drug targets to combat viral infections.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 27 Oct. 2025
Get Morning Squawk directly in your inbox CNBC's Morning Squawk recaps the biggest stories investors should know before the stock market opens, every weekday morning.
—Alex Harring, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2025
The single entrance opens into the living area, which contains a very compact spot for a sofa or chair, with two skylights above to help maximize natural light inside.
—New Atlas, 27 Oct. 2025
The city’s newest dessert shop opens this fall and will offer treats with a halal twist.
—Isabel Rivera, Miami Herald, 27 Oct. 2025
The story opens at Kyoto’s Tenryu-ji Temple, where 292 participants gather for the first battle — a vast, night-long melee staged without digital enhancement.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 27 Oct. 2025
The festival opens on October 31 with Stéphane Demoustier’s The Great Arch, starring Claes Bang as late idiosyncratic architect Johan Otto von Spreckelsen, and closes on November 9 with Kent Jones’ Late Fame, starring Willem Dafoe and Greta Lee.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 27 Oct. 2025
The album opens with Allen's move to New York with her daughters Ethel and Marnie, where she is pushed by her partner to buy a brownstone.
—Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 27 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for opens
Verb
-
This code unlocks two distinct options for your first bet.—
Tyler Everett,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Oct. 2025
-
This tier also unlocks Perplexity Pro Perks, which include deals on a variety of third-party products and services.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The band members leave to find their places onstage, the room clears, and D is left alone, his Shaft-like black leather coat stretching past his knees, his cornrows tight and clean, every last wisp whipped into place, his skin brown like chocolate Häagen-Dazs.—
Touré,
Rolling Stone,
14 Oct. 2025
-
The moon’s entrance to Gemini adds intensity to a discussion but ultimately clears the air.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
That might be a regular thing for a few years, and then again once the Playoff inevitably expands.—
Alex Kirshner,
New York Times,
26 Oct. 2025
-
As the Universe expands, the volume increases, while the particle masses and the total number of particles remain the same.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Taking advantage of vertical space in a garage not only helps keep things organized, but also frees up floor space and protects items from dirt, dust, pests like mice and rats, and moisture.—
Michelle Mastro,
Architectural Digest,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Not having to practice kickoffs frees up more time to practice other aspects of the game.—
Alana Semuels,
Time,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Water From The Top First, water the plant over the top of the soil enough that water begins to drain from the bottom of the pot.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
26 Oct. 2025
-
Hydroplaning occurs when a vehicle begins to slide uncontrollably on wet roads.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
As for Elite World Group’s partnership with Asia Kingston, this also extends to the development of tech gadgets, encompassing the likes of earphones, headphones, portable speakers, smartwatches and power banks.—
Sandra Salibian,
Footwear News,
22 Oct. 2025
-
The emphasis on friendship and common experiences extends into the respondents’ narrative preferences.—
Andrew McGowan,
Variety,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Here, for now, are three pressing questions as the offseason commences.—
Matt Gelb,
New York Times,
11 Oct. 2025
-
After 2029 the moon will pass south of the Pleiades until the next series commences in 2042.—
Joe Rao,
Space.com,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Protesters can be heard yelling as the confrontation unfolds, and pepper spray is deployed.—
Jasmine Baehr,
FOXNews.com,
26 Oct. 2025
-
The historical true-crime drama, based on the real-life 1977 Tony Kiritsis hostage case, unfolds like a pressure cooker between desperation and spectacle.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
25 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Opens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/opens. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share