adjective

ajar

uh-JAHR/əˈdʒɑːr/

Open a little way.

The bedroom door stands ajar, letting a strip of light escape.

A plain door sits almost closed in its frame, with a narrow visible gap along the latch side showing that it is slightly open.

Etymology

On the suggested Scottish derivation, the pieces mean “on the turn”: a door or gate turned a little way. That image describes something left slightly open rather than fully opened or shut.

In context

Eastside Decoded – SCP12:09

The door is slightly ajar, and with firm movements of Herbie it is pushed open.

The Siberian Wasteland Made Entirely of Living Human Flesh (SCP-610)

More examples

She left the window ajar to cool the room.
A cupboard hung ajar above the sink.
He noticed that the garden gate was slightly ajar.

Similar words

open: Does not specify how far something has been opened.
partly open: States the small opening more plainly and less compactly.