door

American  

[dawr, dohr] / dɔr, doʊr /

noun

• doors
  plural

1. a movable, usually solid, barrier for opening and closing an entranceway, cupboard, cabinet, or the like, commonly turning on hinges or sliding in grooves.

2. a doorway.

   to go through the door.

3. the building, house, etc., to which a door belongs.

   My friend lives two doors down the street.

4. any means of approach, admittance, or access.

   the doors to learning.

5. any gateway marking an entrance or exit from one place or state to another.

   at heaven's door.

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idioms

1. lay at someone's door, to hold someone accountable for; blame; impute.

2. leave the door open, to allow the possibility of accommodation or change; be open to reconsideration.

   The boss rejected our idea but left the door open for discussing it again next year.

3. lie at someone's door, to be the responsibility of; be imputable to.

   One's mistakes often lie at one's own door.

4. show someone the door, to request or order someone to leave; dismiss.

   She resented his remark and showed him the door.

door British  

/ dɔː /

noun

1. 1. a hinged or sliding panel for closing the entrance to a room, cupboard, etc

   2. ( in combination )

      doorbell

      doorknob

2. a doorway or entrance to a room or building

3. a means of access or escape

   a door to success

4. informal sport at an early stage

5. to lay (the blame or responsibility) on someone

6. in or into the open air

7. to order someone to leave

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door More Idioms  

1. see at death's door; at one's door; back door; beat a path to someone's door; behind closed doors; close the door on; darken one's door; foot in the door; keep the wolf from the door; lay at someone's door; leave the door open; lock the barn door; next door to; open doors; open the door to; see someone out (to the door); show someone out (to the door); show someone the door.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• doorless
  adjective
• half-door
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• doors
  plural

Etymology

Origin of door

First recorded before 900; Middle English dore, Old English duru “door,” dor “gate”; akin to German Tür, Old Norse dyrr, Greek thýra, Latin foris, Old Irish dorus, Old Chursh Slavonic dvĭrĭ

Explanation

A door is a moving structure that when closed acts as a barrier to a room, house, building, or car. You'll have to open the door to let your dog come inside. Buildings have doors, and so do most vehicles. You might also have a special little door built into your own back door for your cat. Doors act as security, as they can be closed and locked, and also as ventilation when you open the door to let the spring air in. Being "out of doors" means you're outside, beyond all the doors of your house or building.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

door doors

Although they rejected his claim for compensation, the courts left the door open to holding major emitters liable for climate-related payments.

From Barron's ● Oct. 9, 2026

The man told the court that the lock on the front door of her flat was loose and that he had been able to force it open.

From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026

During questioning by a lawyer acting on behalf of Laura Marshall's family he said that both the door frame and the bathroom door had been damaged when he examined the scene.

From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026

If former senior intelligence officers can offer their own consulting businesses without restriction, he added, “this opens a potential door for our enemies to try to penetrate.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026

“Well, we’re here now,” Sela said quietly as we reached the side door.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Oppenheim said neither Holmes nor Evans voiced familiarity with his work when they opened their doors.

From Barron's ● Oct. 9, 2026

Apocalyptic eschatology has long been an interest of Thiel’s, who has made the Antichrist a central topic of secretive lectures he’s given behind closed doors.

From Salon ● Oct. 8, 2026

Aircraft could be stored in hangers with doors that shut.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026

In the TV adaptation, Carrie has been raised behind closed doors by her paranoid father and deeply religious mother, and only enters school after a tragedy reveals her existence to authorities.

From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026

At the house, none of the doors were locked.

From "The Way to Rio Luna" by Zoraida Cordova

Related Words

• exit
• gate