only opened

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "only opened" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something has been opened and nothing else has occurred or been done. Example: "The box was only opened after the meeting concluded."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"The Java exploit only opened the door.

The New York Times

I only opened the shop in the evenings.

The Guardian - Business

The Shanghai stock exchange only opened in 1991.

The Guardian - Opinion

I only opened it a little while ago.

The Guardian

The first London office only opened in 2014.

The Guardian

In fact, it was only opened two months ago.

The Guardian - Film

The Israeli military said troops only opened fire after encountering unexpected resistance from the activists.

Independent

Mr Romney, by contrast, only opened his state headquarters there in late February.

The Economist

It only opened a few months ago, but it already feels well established.

Independent

After that, the academy only opened the show to the public when journalists requested entry.

The New York Times - Arts

Lauren, on the counter, tells us The Bun Shop only opened in April.

The Guardian - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "only opened" to emphasize that no other action or event followed the act of opening. For example, "The package was "only opened" to verify the contents and then resealed."

Common error

Avoid using "only opened" when you intend to convey further actions or developments. For instance, instead of "The store "only opened", attracting many customers", say "The store opened, attracting many customers".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "only opened" functions as a verb phrase, typically used to describe an action that was limited to the act of opening something. Ludwig AI examples show its use in various contexts, reinforcing its role in specifying a singular, initial action.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Social Media

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "only opened" is a grammatically sound and frequently used verb phrase. As Ludwig AI confirms, it serves to emphasize that the action was limited solely to opening something, with no subsequent actions implied. Its neutrality makes it appropriate for various contexts, including news, science, and business. While straightforward, it's crucial to avoid using it when further actions are intended. Alternatives like "just opened" or "newly opened" can offer nuanced meanings depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

just opened

Replaces "only" with "just", emphasizing the recency of the opening.

newly opened

Highlights the novelty and recent establishment of something that has been opened.

recently opened

Similar to "newly opened", focusing on the short time since the opening occurred.

merely opened

Substitutes "only" with "merely", suggesting that nothing beyond the opening has occurred.

partially opened

Indicates that something was opened to a limited extent, not fully.

briefly opened

Implies a short duration of being opened.

first opened

Highlights that it was the initial instance of something being opened.

exclusively opened

Suggests that it was specifically and solely opened, perhaps under certain conditions.

initially opened

Focuses on the beginning stage of being opened.

began to open

Describes the starting action of opening, without necessarily implying completion.

FAQs

How can I use "only opened" in a sentence?

Use "only opened" to emphasize that nothing else happened after the action of opening. For example, "The document was "only opened" for a quick review".

What are some alternatives to "only opened"?

Depending on the context, you can use "just opened", "recently opened", or "merely opened".

Is it correct to say "it only opened" or "it opened only"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but "it only opened" is more common and natural-sounding in most contexts. "It opened only" is used more for emphasis.

What's the difference between "only opened" and "opened exclusively"?

"Only opened" signifies that the sole action was opening something. "Opened exclusively" implies that it was opened for a specific purpose or to a select group.