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
- open-endedness noun
Etymology
Origin of open-ended
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.
Razi Marshall, a 19-year-old business student at the University of Southern California and a member of the Young Republicans, said the war could become a costly and open-ended intervention.
From Barron's • Mar. 26, 2026
“But broad-based and open-ended measures may add excessively to demand and strengthen the pass-through.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 25, 2026
The work stoppage, if it happens, would be an open-ended strike that could last until an agreement is reached.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 17, 2026
President Donald Trump gave a more clear, though open-ended answer: “I always thought it would be four weeks,” Trump told CNN on Monday, “And we’re a little ahead of schedule.”
From Salon • Mar. 10, 2026
The joint planning council agreed upon an open-ended program of noncooperation and nonviolence.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
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.
