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.
Ask open-ended questions to learn about their experiences that led them to have these concerns.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026
Mottershead wanted to change certain terms and asked for a more open-ended timeframe to reduce emissions.
From Salon ● Jun. 26, 2026
This brings the company’s total active, open-ended buyback capacity to roughly $118 billion, making it one of the largest in corporate history.
From Barron's ● Jun. 25, 2026
Managers can elicit more meaningful feedback by asking specific, open-ended questions to anchor responses in concrete behaviors.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 11, 2026
What those from the Deep South wanted was open-ended access to African imports to stock their plantations.
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
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.
