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90% of the time, speakers of English use just 7,500 words in speech and writing. These words appear in red, and are graded with stars. One-star words are frequent, two-star words are more frequent, and three-star words are the most frequent.

verb
  3. 3
    to move your arms or legs wide apart

    *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of open*

    To move your limbs and appendages: spread, fold your arms/hands, bend, wave, reach out, kick, stretch, open, close, extend... more
    1. a.
      to move your lips and teeth apart so that your mouth is not closed

      *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of open*

      To use or to move the mouth or throat: dribble, drool, drop, hawk, open, pucker, salivate, shut, slobber, spit... more
    2. b.
      to move your eyelids apart so that your eyes are not closed

      *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of open*

      What the eyes can do: adjust, blink, blink, focus, open, pop, screw up, see, shut, squeeze... more
    3. c.
      to make your fingers straight so that your hand is not closed

      *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of open*

      To change your position: balance, bend, bestride, bow, burrow, cower, crane, crook, crouch, double over... more
  5. 5

    open

     or

    open up

     if a new business, building, etc. opens, or if someone opens it, it becomes available for people to use for the first time

    *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of open*

    Starting up in business: go into, set up, start up, found, establish, move into, open, start, incorporate, constitute... more
    1. a.
      if something that has been private or secret opens, or if someone opens it to people, it becomes available for people to visit, see, or take part in

      *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of open*

      Available and to be, or to become available: available, public, spare, vacant, going, open, on offer, seasonal, accessible, usable... more
    2. b.
      if a movie or play opens, it starts being shown to the public

      *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of open*

      To perform or entertain, or to be performed: amuse, appear, compère, conjure, debut, do, emcee, entertain, extemporize, go on... more
    3. c.
      if a road, telephone line, or other method of communication opens, or if someone opens it, it becomes available for people to use

      *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of open*

      Available and to be, or to become available: available, public, spare, vacant, going, open, on offer, seasonal, accessible, usable... more
    4. d.
      if a famous person opens a store or public building, they appear there to say that it is officially available for people to use or visit

      *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of open*

      The activity of selling: aftermarket, buyer’s market, call, churn rate, cold call, credit rating, cross-selling, customer care, detail, direct marketing... more
  6. 6
    to begin a speech

    *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of open*

    To start speaking, or to start speaking again: begin, bring up, continue, go on, get out, throw in, add, open, break your silence, find your tongue... more
    1. a.
      to begin something such as a discussion or trial

      *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of open*

      To start speaking, or to start speaking again: begin, bring up, continue, go on, get out, throw in, add, open, break your silence, find your tongue... more
    2. b.
      to start an account with a bank

      *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of open*

      To use a bank account: bank, borrow, close, credit, debit, deposit, draw, mortgage, open, pay in... more
    3. c.
      when a period of time opens, it begins

      *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of open*

      To start to exist or happen: start, begin, arise, arrive, originate, develop, commence, set in, come into being, fall/fit into place... more

phrases

phrasal verbs

These are synonyms and/or related words for open in the American English Thesaurus. View synonyms and/or related words for open in the British English Thesaurus.

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vocal fry

a speech habit in which a speaker lowers their voice at the end of a sentence

BuzzWord Article

Word of the Day Word of the Day

dray

a type of cart pulled by a horse and used in the past for carrying barrels of beer

Open Dictionary

conflict mineral

a mineral which is mined in a place where there is armed conflict, and sold to help pay for weapons

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