ajar
adjective or adverb
ə-ˈjär 
: slightly open
left the door ajar
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Located on a busy corner in downtown Toronto, the BSM is a large, arresting limestone building designed to resemble a shoebox with its lid slightly ajar. 
Brigit Katz, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Aug. 2022 If your kitchen is cool, heat oven to 160 to 170 degrees F; turn off oven and place bowl in oven with door slightly ajar. Kim Sunée, Anchorage Daily News, 22 July 2022 But since 1983, Ironman has left the back door for its marquee event slightly ajar via a lottery program in which 100 age groupers can qualify each year. Julia Polloreno, Outside Online, 26 May 2015 The trailer door was ajar when law enforcement arrived but those inside were too weak to get themselves out, Hood said. Maria Sacchetti, Washington Post, 28 June 2022 The officer turned around and Bouey was made to strip completely naked with the door still ajar. Kate Morrissey, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2022 Drop the heat to allow for a simmer, then cover, with the lid slightly ajar. Danny Chau, The New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2022 Keep in Mind: There is no door alarm to warn you that one of the fridge's doors is ajar. Barbara Bellesi Zito, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 May 2022 And Brown cryptically appeared to leave the door ajar for a potential comeback. Chris Solari, Detroit Free Press, 21 Mar. 2022 See More
Brigit Katz, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Aug. 2022 If your kitchen is cool, heat oven to 160 to 170 degrees F; turn off oven and place bowl in oven with door slightly ajar. Kim Sunée, Anchorage Daily News, 22 July 2022 But since 1983, Ironman has left the back door for its marquee event slightly ajar via a lottery program in which 100 age groupers can qualify each year. Julia Polloreno, Outside Online, 26 May 2015 The trailer door was ajar when law enforcement arrived but those inside were too weak to get themselves out, Hood said. Maria Sacchetti, Washington Post, 28 June 2022 The officer turned around and Bouey was made to strip completely naked with the door still ajar. Kate Morrissey, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2022 Drop the heat to allow for a simmer, then cover, with the lid slightly ajar. Danny Chau, The New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2022 Keep in Mind: There is no door alarm to warn you that one of the fridge's doors is ajar. Barbara Bellesi Zito, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 May 2022 And Brown cryptically appeared to leave the door ajar for a potential comeback. Chris Solari, Detroit Free Press, 21 Mar. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
earlier on char, from Middle English, from on + char turn — more at chare
First Known Use
1559, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
ajar
adverb or adjective
ə-ˈjär
: slightly open
I left the door ajar.