open-ended
Americanadjective
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not having fixed limits; unrestricted; broad.
an open-ended discussion.
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allowing for future changes, revisions, or additions.
open-ended agreements.
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having no fixed answer.
an open-ended question.
adjective
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without definite limits, as of duration or amount
an open-ended contract
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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)
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Engineering - Introductory
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Engineering: Defining Problems and Designing Solutions - Introductory
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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.
The Playground presents itself as "an alternative to passive or open-ended digital entertainment" amid "a growing national conversation around children's screen time habits".
From BBC • Jun. 20, 2026
This means an open-ended fund will keep some cash on hand to be ready for that action.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 9, 2026
“The old model of global health assistance was essentially an open-ended subsidy—dollars flowing to overpriced middlemen with minimal accountability and no exit strategy,” a State Department spokesman said.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 31, 2026
Union leaders said the open-ended strike would not end until demands are met for better wages, lower healthcare costs and opening talks with UC over how the university can help alleviate ballooning housing costs.
From Los Angeles Times • May 13, 2026
He looked wary, as he always did when I asked an open-ended question.
From "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer
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.
