adjective / verb / noun

open

OH-puhn/ˈəʊpən/

Not shut, sealed, or enclosed.

The wooden chest is open, with its lid fully raised.

A simple wooden chest with its hinged lid raised fully, clearly exposing an empty, unobstructed interior.

Etymology

openOld Englishnot closed down, raised up

Old English open described gates or eyelids as raised up rather than closed down. That physical contrast survives in the broader sense of something not shut or obstructed.

In context

Lauren the Mortician2:10

dignity. about allowing a family to see their loved one last time without being traumatized by the injuries that caused their death. Why does this matter? Because in the US, open casket funerals are still very common.

From Bullet Holes to Open Caskets: How Embalmers Rebuild the Dead

More examples

She opens the jar and pours out the sauce.
Leave the window open to let in fresh air.
We sleep out in the open, without a tent.

Forms

open · opens · opened · opening

opening noun — A gap that allows passage through.

opener noun — A tool used to remove closures.

Similar words

unsealed: Not securely fastened shut, even if a cover remains.
unobstructed: Free of anything blocking passage, movement, or a view.
exposed: Without a covering or shelter that provides protection.