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

In the 1900s, physicists like Max Planck, Niels Bohr, Erwin Schrondinger, and others developed theories to explain the world of atomic and subatomic particles, leading to the development of quantum mechanics, which has opened up fields like quantum computing and sensing in recent years. —Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 22 June 2026

The country star opens up about travel habits, creative inspiration and Hilton’s new road trip package tied to her Atlanta concert. —Nathan Diller, USA Today, 22 June 2026

In a previous interview with Essence, Beyoncé opened up about her own hair journey and self-care routine. —Juliana Ukiomogbe, InStyle, 22 June 2026

The studio setting opened up sonic possibilities unavailable inside a fort. —Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 22 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)