open-ended
Americanadjective
-
not having fixed limits; unrestricted; broad.
an open-ended discussion.
-
allowing for future changes, revisions, or additions.
open-ended agreements.
-
having no fixed answer.
an open-ended question.
adjective
-
without definite limits, as of duration or amount
an open-ended contract
-
denoting a question, esp one on a questionnaire, that cannot be answered "yes", "no", or "don't know"
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of open-ended
Explanation
Something that's open-ended doesn't have a specific end date or time. You might buy an open-ended plane ticket to Rome if you're not sure when — or if — you'll want to come home. Things that are limitless, or that have no restrictions or restraints, can be called open-ended. An open-ended lease on a apartment doesn't end on a specific day, and an open-ended babysitting job would be somewhat casual, rather than a regular, reliable job. Open-ended questions are complicated ones — they can't be answered with a simple "yes" or "no." The adjective open-ended has been in use since the mid-1800s.
Vocabulary lists containing open-ended
TEKS ELAR Academic Vocabulary List (5th-7th grades)
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Engineering - Introductory
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Engineering: Defining Problems and Designing Solutions - Introductory
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
He expects customers to demand clear business cases and shorter payback periods, and to run fewer open-ended experiments.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 2, 2026
This kind of open-ended investigation, often described as 'blue sky' research, can produce unexpected discoveries with benefits extending far beyond the original scientific question.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 16, 2026
When it comes to Halloween costumes, creatures are a time-tested crowd favorite, as well as a fairly open-ended prompt that can be left up to interpretation.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 15, 2026
Government ethics ranked second behind the economy in Pew's open-ended survey, cited by nine percent of voters.
From Barron's ● Oct. 5, 2026
This is when Robert McNamara broke with the policy of open-ended escalation.
From "Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War" by Steve Sheinkin
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
