Meaning & use
opened up
Last updated
“opened up” is a form of “open up”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
phrasephrasal verb
Made something accessible or ready for use, for example by unlocking it, removing a cover or starting business for the day.
Grammar: Works with an object: she opened up the store; she opened it up.
Patterns
- open something up
- open up something
She opened up the shop at eight every morning.
He opened up the box and looked inside.
The workers opened up the wall to check the pipes.
phrasephrasal verb
Began to talk more freely about private thoughts or feelings.
Grammar: No object; often followed by to or about: he opened up to his friend.
Patterns
- open up to someone
- open up about something
After a few weeks, she opened up about her worries.
He finally opened up to his parents.
The therapist waited until the boy opened up.
phrasephrasal verb
Made new chances or options available, or became wider or more available.
Grammar: Can take an object or have none: a new market opened up; the job opened up opportunities.
Patterns
- open up opportunities
- something opens up
The new train line opened up the region to visitors.
A job opened up in the accounting department.
Learning Spanish opened up many doors for her.
Word forms
| base form | open up |
|---|---|
| third person singular | opens up |
| -ing form | opening up |
Common combinations
- opened up about
- He opened up about his childhood for the first time.
- opened up opportunities
- The scholarship opened up opportunities she had never imagined.
- opened up a gap
- The runner opened up a gap of ten meters.
- opened up a market
- The treaty opened up a new market for local farmers.
- opened up the shop
- My aunt opened up the shop early for the delivery.
Synonyms and how they differ
- confided
- Confided is narrower and means telling someone private things in trust, while opened up can be gradual and less deliberate.
- unlocked
- Unlocked is about releasing a lock, whereas opened up can also mean making something accessible in a wider sense.
- expanded
- Expanded means made bigger, while opened up focuses on making room for new access or options.
Opposites
Word family
- open verb
- to make or become not closed
- opening noun
- a gap, a start, or a vacancy
- openness noun
- honesty or willingness to accept new ideas
- open-minded adjective
- willing to consider new ideas
Commonly confused: opened up or opened out?
opened up vs opened out
Opened out means spread or unfolded, as in the map opened out on the table, and is less about opening a business or feelings.
Practice
The quiet boy slowly ___ to his teacher about how worried he was.
Choose one answer.
Opened up to someone means began to talk freely about feelings. Opened out means unfolded or spread and does not fit this meaning.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “opened up”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.