open-ended

adjective

Unrestricted by definite limits.

“I'll ask you an open-ended question.”

Similar
unrestrictedindeterminateundeterminedchangeablechangeful
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Meanings

adjectiveopen-ended (not comparable)
  1. not comparableUnrestricted by definite limits.

    There will be an open-ended discussion.

    1 more example

    This short list represents but a few items of an extensive and open-ended list of untreated Indian English lexis.

    2012, James Lambert, “Beyond Hobson-Jobson: A new lexicography for Indian English”, in World Englishes, page 302
  2. not comparableAdaptable to change.

    The topic is definitions, but is open-ended really.

  3. not comparablePermitting a spontaneous or unstructured response.

    I'll ask you an open-ended question.

  4. not comparablecard gamesOf a straight draw, made up of four consecutive cards, thus able to be completed by either of two ranks of card.

    The flop of 3-6-Q gave Brunson an open-ended straight draw with his 4-5 of hearts.

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectivewithout fixed limits or restrictions

Similar
unrestricted

adjectiveallowing for a spontaneous response

Similar
indeterminateundetermined

adjectiveallowing for future changes or revisions

Similar
changeablechangeful
Also see
indeterminateundetermined

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Translations

Bulgarian неограничен, открит за промени
  • неограничен (neograničen)unrestricted by definite limits
  • открит за промени (otkrit za promeni)adaptable to change
  • отво́рен (otvóren)permitting unstructured response
Chinese Mandarin 開放式 /开放式, 開放式 /开放式
  • 開放式 /开放式 (kāifàngshì)unrestricted by definite limits
  • 開放式 /开放式 (kāifàngshì)permitting unstructured response
Finnish toistaiseksi voimassa oleva, avoin
  • toistaiseksi voimassa olevaunrestricted by definite limits
  • avoinunrestricted by definite limits
  • vapaaunrestricted by definite limits
  • avoinadaptable to change
  • avoinpermitting unstructured response
  • vapaasti vastattavapermitting unstructured response
French ouvert, ouvert
  • ouvertunrestricted by definite limits
  • ouvertpermitting unstructured response
German ergebnisoffen
  • ergebnisoffenunrestricted by definite limits
Italian a tempo indeterminato, aperto
  • a tempo indeterminatounrestricted by definite limits
  • apertoadaptable to change
  • apertopermitting unstructured response
Polish luźny, otwarty
  • luźnyunrestricted by definite limits
  • otwartyunrestricted by definite limits
  • elastycznyadaptable to change
  • otwartypermitting unstructured response
Spanish abierto, abierto
  • abiertounrestricted by definite limits
  • abiertoadaptable to change
  • abiertopermitting unstructured response
Swedish öppen
  • öppenpermitting unstructured response
Turkish açık uçlu
  • açık uçlupermitting unstructured response
Cite this entry
APA

open-ended. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/open-ended

MLA

“open-ended.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/open-ended. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “open-ended,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/open-ended.

Source: open-ended on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.