break open
phrasal verb
broke open; broken open; breaking open; breaks open
: to open or to cause (something) to open suddenly
The pods broke open and the seeds scattered on the wind.
The police broke open the door.
The burglars broke the locked safe open.
Examples of break open in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
After a few tries, the pellet breaks open, and in his palm a small, pinkish tablet spills out.
—
Greg Myre, NPR, 19 Dec. 2024
If the plaque breaks open suddenly, a blood clot forms that can partially or entirely block the coronary artery.
—Christopher Lee, Verywell Health, 10 Oct. 2024
For dessert, make sure to order the chocolate sphere, which breaks open to reveal chocolate mousse and berries.
—Kaila Yu, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024
Carter can break open a game and likely will continue attracting double teams.
—Audrey Snyder, The Athletic, 22 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for break open 
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Greg Myre, NPR, 19 Dec. 2024
If the plaque breaks open suddenly, a blood clot forms that can partially or entirely block the coronary artery.
—Christopher Lee, Verywell Health, 10 Oct. 2024
For dessert, make sure to order the chocolate sphere, which breaks open to reveal chocolate mousse and berries.
—Kaila Yu, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024
Carter can break open a game and likely will continue attracting double teams.
—Audrey Snyder, The Athletic, 22 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for break open
Dictionary Entries Near break open
Cite this Entry
“Break open.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/break%20open. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.
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