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

Szoboszlai has much better access to Yoane Wissa in the space that opens up as Gravenberch pushes forward and Wirtz drops back to cover (no doubt after a half-time reminder about the importance of covering the space). — Jon MacKenzie, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026

The Sunrise on the Reaping cast also open up about their approach to servicing fans — and a few ways that the fanbase helped them too. — Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Aug. 2026

Then, just days before her shocking death, Parton opened up about her health again. — Allison Degrushe, StyleCaster, 25 Aug. 2026

Aside from a two-year stint as Arkansas' running backs coach, Traylor has spent his entire career in the Lone Star State, and that is significant for the sole fact that a job could be opening up just three hours north on I-35. — Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 25 Aug. 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)