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 Phillips and Lloyd added to the defensive front, the Panthers will need to open up cap space through restructures and/or releases. —Mike Kaye updated March 9, Charlotte Observer, 10 Mar. 2026

The tentative deal will force Live Nation and Ticketmaster to make several changes to their business model, which could open up avenues for more competition in the live-entertainment space. —Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 10 Mar. 2026

The studio gets plenty of sun, and even opens up onto a small patio—take your morning espresso here before heading out to explore the city center. —Elly Leavitt, Vogue, 10 Mar. 2026

More than 1,000 new seats for New York City's free 3-K program will be opening up this fall, Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced Tuesday. —Elijah Westbrook, CBS News, 10 Mar. 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)