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 two-time Pro Bowl wide receiver, who is entering his eighth NFL season and second with the Pittsburgh Steelers, opened up on the topic in a wide-ranging interview with The Athletic’s Jonathan Jones. — The Athletic Staff, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026

Nine Democrats are vying for their party's nomination, with a bitter contest having opened up between frontrunners Maura Sullivan and Stefany Shaheen. — Caroline Linton, CBS News, 8 Sep. 2026

This view suggests that the sense of shame was collectively weakened by a series of self-interested actors who shattered the social firmament and opened up the gates to chaos. — Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2026

As more land opened up, birds moved farther north and west into that habitat. — Stephanie Szarmach, The Conversation, 8 Sep. 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)