ajar

Ajar is an English adjective and adverb meaning partially open. It is most commonly used to describe a door, window, lid, or other opening that is not fully closed. The standard construction is predicative: “The door is ajar.” Attributive use, as in “an ajar door,” is less common and not always preferred in formal writing.

In everyday language, ajar conveys a sense of incompleteness or potential—the opening invites entry or further action without being fully shut. Metaphorically, it can describe situations, options, or plans that are not fully settled or closed off.

The origin of the word is uncertain. The term appears in English by the early modern period, but its precise etymology remains a matter of scholarly discussion. It is generally treated as a fixed lexical item rather than a transparent compound, with the a- prefix linking to a state and jar relating to opening or movement in some historical analyses.

Ajar remains a compact, neutral term used across various registers, from everyday conversation to formal writing, wherever a partially open state needs brief description. It is typically not used to describe anything other than openings that are not completely closed, though it can appear in figurative contexts to suggest partial openness or opportunity. See also half-open, cracked, and slightly open.