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

That, after all, would open up these politicians to scrutiny and blame if the wars didn’t go well. —Daniel Depetris, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2025

During the pandemic, a wave of American and European galleries, like many local dealers, opened up shop in the hopes of tapping that 1 percent, and also the flood of American and European expats that arrived then as well. —Harrison Jacobs, ARTnews.com, 10 Feb. 2025

The comedian, who will celebrate her 50th birthday on Feb. 25, opened up about embracing her age during an appearance on Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard. —Stephanie Wenger, People.com, 10 Feb. 2025

Grande, who starred in Nickelodeon’s Victorious and spinoff series Sam & Cat, opened up about navigating fame as a teen and introducing contractual health resources to Marc Maron in a podcast episode released Monday. —Kalia Richardson, Rolling Stone, 10 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1582, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

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)