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

Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke has opened up about the band’s extended break from touring, revealing that personal loss and emotional burnout contributed to the group’s seven-year absence from the stage. —Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 26 Oct. 2025

Several current and former college athletes also joined in on the movement, while the Kappa Sigma fraternity brothers opened up their home to the group to host the event, according to Elks. —Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 26 Oct. 2025

There's these little options that are going to open up to you. —Jennifer Liu, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2025

His son Ethan, a third-generation chef, learned about flavors and techniques in his family’s kitchen before opening up his own restaurant, the sushi spot Glass Box, also at Sky Deck. —Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Oct. 2025

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)