Meaning & use
reopen
Last updated
Meanings
verbtransitive or intransitive
to open a place again after it has been closed for a time
Grammar: Can take an object (reopen the store) or be used without one (the store reopens tomorrow).
Patterns
- reopen something
- something reopens
- reopen for business
The museum will reopen next month after renovations.
They decided to reopen the old factory as a community center.
The road reopens once the snow has been cleared.
verbtransitive
to start discussing or dealing with a question, case, or agreement again
Grammar: Usually takes an object: reopen a case, reopen negotiations.
Patterns
- reopen a case
- reopen negotiations
- reopen a debate
The police have reopened the investigation into the 1990 robbery.
Both sides agreed to reopen talks on the trade deal.
The court refused to reopen the case because no new evidence was presented.
Word forms
| third person singular | reopens |
|---|---|
| past tense | reopened |
| past participle | reopened |
| -ing form | reopening |
Common combinations
- reopen a case
- The district attorney decided to reopen the case after new DNA evidence emerged.
- reopen for business
- The café will reopen for business on Monday.
- reopen negotiations
- The union voted to reopen negotiations over pay.
- reopen to the public
- The library reopens to the public next week.
- reopen old wounds
- Bringing up the past can reopen old wounds.
Synonyms and how they differ
- restart
- Used for starting an activity again, not for physical places; you restart a game, not a store.
- resume
- More formal and often used for talks or activities that were paused; you resume negotiations, but you reopen a building.
Opposites
Word family
- reopening noun
- The act of opening something again or starting it again.
- open verb
- To make something no longer closed; the base word without the 're-' prefix.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence.
Choose one answer.
We use 'reopen on' with days and dates: reopen on Monday. 'Reopen to' is used for people or the public (reopen to the public). 'Reopen for' is used for a purpose or duration (reopen for business). 'Reopen at' is used for times (reopen at 9 a.m.).
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “reopen”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.