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Prepositions after verbs

How to use prepositions with reopen

Reopen is often followed by to or as, depending on the meaning.

Quick answer

Which prepositions follow reopen?

Reopen to is common when a place becomes accessible again to people. Reopen as is used when something returns with a new role or identity. Reopen in is not a standard fixed combination, though in can introduce a time or place phrase.

The museum will reopen to visitors next week
The building reopened as a community centre
Schools may reopen in September

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
reopen to + group

Becoming accessible again

Use to for the people who can enter or use something again.

The park reopened to the public
2
reopen as + role

Returning with a new identity

Use as when something changes function or status.

The theatre reopened as a cinema
3
reopen in + time/place

Adding time or location

In can show when or where reopening happens.

The branch will reopen in June
4
reopen + object

Opening something again

Reopen can also be transitive without a preposition.

The city plans to reopen the bridge

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
reopen to
The library reopened to students.
allow access again
reopen as
The hotel reopened as a spa resort.
return with a new identity
reopen in
The office will reopen in August.
in introduces time or place
reopen + object
Officials reopened the investigation.
open something again

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using reopen in for people

Use to, not in, for the people gaining access.

✕ The stadium reopened in fans. ✓ The stadium reopened to fans.

Confusing as with to

As introduces a new role or function.

✕ The shop reopened to a café. ✓ The shop reopened as a café.

Adding an unnecessary preposition

Reopen can directly take an object.

✕ They reopened to the road. ✓ They reopened the road.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The gallery reopened ___ the public yesterday.
2. The old station reopened ___ a museum.
3. The resort will reopen ___ May.

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Frequently asked questions

Is reopen to correct?

Yes. It is the normal form for access: reopen to visitors or customers.

When do we use reopen as?

Use it when something returns with a new identity or purpose.

Can reopen in be correct?

Yes, when in introduces time or place information such as in June or in the city centre.

radiate-from-into-around-to, with "raise in" or "raise by"? rake in, through, across, at or over? rally in, around, to, behind or on? "rape by" or "rape in"? ratify by, in, on, according or as? ravage by, from, on, through or with? rave about, at, from, to or before? reach for, by, at, to or into? react to, with, in, by or like? read about, in, on, through or for? "realize in", "realize at" or "realize by"?

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