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

Both are in the running for the job of Fed chair, which will open up at the end of Powell’s term next May. —Kristina Karisch, The Hill, 31 July 2025

What these technologies that could open up the world, and the imagination, do instead is render their children ever smaller. —Jeremy Dauber, HollywoodReporter, 31 July 2025

Google will need to stop requiring developers to use its Google Play billing system, opening up third-party payments that could earn developers more revenue. —Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 31 July 2025

In recent years, numerous celebrities have come forward with their own stories of suffering, opening up about their health and treatments, both for better and worse. —Grace Gavilanes, People.com, 31 July 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)