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

With a personal new album, an upcoming world tour, and four kids at home, the millennial icon opens up about growing up in public, tabloid culture, and why this moment just feels right. —Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 17 Feb. 2026

But proximity to the sport’s oldest traditions has not blinded him to the possibilities opening up in the Gulf. —Camilla Wright, semafor.com, 17 Feb. 2026

For the architect, creating a functional space here involved opening up the existing rooms. —Annabelle Dufraigne, Architectural Digest, 17 Feb. 2026

Rodwell has only been able to request clemency because of a change to the clemency guidelines that opened up the process to people who maintain their innocence. —Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 17 Feb. 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)