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.
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
But as they—and the estimated 54.4 million children enrolled in K–12 schools in the United States—transition from open-ended summer days to structured school days, they’ll be spending less time outside or socializing freely with friends.
From Slate ● Sep. 5, 2026
For Steinem, the most rewarding part of these events were the open-ended conversations she facilitated afterward, as those in the room formed connections, hatched plans.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 3, 2026
In contrast, a bond fund is an open-ended portfolio that continuously buys and sells bonds to maintain a target duration, which is a measure of a bond’s sensitivity to interest rates.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026
The trial, appeals, and delays would force her to make three open-ended, coast-to-coast trips in under six months.
From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield
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.
