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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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 On the 49ers’ first series Sunday, Purdy overthrew Pearsall on third down, after Pearsall wasn’t spotted breaking open the previous snap. —

Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 10 Nov. 2024 Hidradenitis suppurativa can involve chronic pain in sensitive areas of the body as well as aesthetic challenges like scarring and lumps that break open to release foul-smelling liquid. —

Petra Guglielmetti, Glamour, 18 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for break open