reopen

Reopen is a transitive verb meaning to open again after being closed or to return something to an active or ongoing state. It is used across legal, administrative, business, and technical contexts to indicate that a prior closure or suspension has been undone.

In a legal sense, a case may be reopened when new evidence emerges; a court may issue an order to reopen an investigation. In business, stores reopen after renovations or after temporary closures due to holidays or emergencies. In public health or policy, governments may reopen borders, schools, or venues as conditions improve. Museums and exhibitions may reopen after maintenance.

In software and data management, actions to reopen a file, connection, or ticket restore access after it had been closed. In issue tracking, a resolved or closed ticket can be reopened if the issue persists or recurs. On user interfaces, a reopen option may reactivate a minimized window or a suspended process.

Etymology and usage: The term derives from the prefix re- meaning again, attached to open. The noun form reopening is common; reopen as a verb remains standard in most contexts, but the preferred form can vary by field. Reopening implies a return to a previous state of activity or access after a period of closure or pause.