open up

verb

opened up; opening up; opens up

transitive verb

1

: to make available or possible

The discovery opens up the possibility of new cures.

2

: to make plain or visible : disclose

3

: to open by cutting into

intransitive verb

1

: to become available or possible

The hostess will let us know when a table opens up.

2

: to spread out or come into view

The road opens up ahead.

3

: to commence firing

4

: to become communicative

tried to get the patient to open up

Examples of open up in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The neighborhood/area Set tastefully back from busy downtown streets, the discreet entrance opens up into a striking lobby. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026

Every turn fosters a new connection, opening up a different way of seeing. — Footwear News, 6 Oct. 2026

Once the 60-year-old house was opened up, the team discovered essentially no rebar in the original foundation. — Kristen Flanagan, Architectural Digest, 6 Oct. 2026

For now, though, the band’s tour bus is sitting idle in the middle of a Planet Fitness parking lot in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Shepherd uses the safe space to open up more. — Selena Fragassi, SPIN, 6 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1582, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for open up

• buttercup
• backup
• blowup
• breakup
• buildup
• checkup
• cleanup
• holdup
• hookup
• lineup
• lockup
• makeup

Kids Definition

open up

verb

1

: to make available

2

: to make visible or come into view

the road opens up ahead

3

: to begin firing (as with a weapon or with questions)