diff --git a/src/controllers/DockWidget.cpp b/src/controllers/DockWidget.cpp
index 0ec67217..cea0e5d6 100644
--- a/src/controllers/DockWidget.cpp
+++ b/src/controllers/DockWidget.cpp
@@ -411,6 +411,11 @@ QStringList DockWidget::affinities() const
 }
 
 void DockWidget::show()
+{
+    open();
+}
+
+void DockWidget::open()
 {
     if (view()->isRootView()
         && (d->m_lastPosition->wasFloating() || !d->m_lastPosition->isValid())) {
diff --git a/src/controllers/DockWidget.h b/src/controllers/DockWidget.h
index 2445fdec..f2d84e19 100644
--- a/src/controllers/DockWidget.h
+++ b/src/controllers/DockWidget.h
@@ -310,8 +310,16 @@ public:
      */
     QStringList affinities() const;
 
-    /// @brief Equivalent to QWidget::show(), but it's optimized to reduce flickering on some
-    /// platforms
+    /// @brief Opens this dock widget.
+    /// Does nothing if already open.
+    /// The dock widget will appear floating unless it knows about its previous layout position,
+    /// in which case it will appear docked (or tabbed) into the main window.
+    void open();
+
+    /// @brief Deprecated, use open() instead.
+    /// Visibility isn't a good concept since tabbed non-current dock widgets are not visible but
+    /// still open.
+    /// @deprecated
     void show();
 
     /// @brief Brings the dock widget to the front.