open door
Americannoun
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the policy of admitting people of all nationalities or ethnic groups to a country upon equal terms, as for immigration.
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the policy or practice of trading with all nations on an equal basis.
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admission or access; unrestricted opportunity.
His experience had given him an open door to success in his field.
noun
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a policy or practice by which a nation grants opportunities for trade to all other nations equally
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free and unrestricted admission
adjective
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open to all; accessible
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(in industrial relations) designating a policy of management being prepared to talk to workers in the office at any time
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of open door
First recorded in 1520–30
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Prof Nellis said that while Scotland has been slow to embrace GPS technology, the campaign could now find itself "pushing at an open door" because ministers are actively exploring ways of reducing the prison population.
From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026
A tavern’s open door to my right revealed a line of patrons perched atop barstools, their backs to the open door, watching a TV showing the eclipse nearing totality.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
"The poor really suffer," said the woman in her 60s, washing vegetables by the open door of her residence as temperatures outside soared up to 38C.
From Barron's ● Aug. 4, 2026
And wow did they waltz right through that open door.
From Slate ● May 23, 2026
A draft, created by the open door, sucked the curtains into the gap of the open window.
From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
