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

While Union Mission Gospel has opened up its emergency men's shelter on University Avenue East, Watkins said many people experiencing homelessness are not in a spot mentally or physically to take advantage. — Conor Wight, CBS News, 1 July 2026

And that alone can open up a lot of opportunities for career advancement. — Colleen Batchelder, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026

Revisiting it today opens up deeper conversations about labor, social conciousness and power. — Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026

The concept as drawn up would open up traffic passage and, in fact, feed into freer movement through an area soon to open an entertainment district and revitalized riverfront trail. — Kansas City Star, 30 June 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)