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

Graduate student guard Rori Harmon said success on the defensive end of the floor opened up the rest of the Longhorns’ game. —Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 Mar. 2026

However, that framework has proven controversial with some EU members, like France, Poland, Austria and Ireland, whose farmers have protested opening up the European consumer market to a wave of cheaper agricultural products. —Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 31 Mar. 2026

Barr opened up about her move to Texas and the joys she's experienced since making the lifestyle change and being outdoors in a recent interview with Fox News Digital. —Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 31 Mar. 2026

The athlete opened up about the news of the musician and entrepreneur's death in an interview a few days later. —Taylor Ardrey, USA Today, 31 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)