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.
American Heritage broke open a tight game in the first half, outscoring Rickards 35-20 in the second half. Gary Curreri, Sun Sentinel, 6 Mar. 2025 Department of Homeland Security via AP, File Officials have offered few details of the cross-country investigation, which broke open after the Jan. 20 shooting death of Maland. CBS News, 18 Feb. 2025 Birch, maple, and walnut will bleed sap if cut before the leaf buds break open. Markis Hill, Kansas City Star, 14 Feb. 2025 Monday night, Sheets had 31 points, including 13 in the third quarter when Manchester (13-1) broke open the game, and Manchester – after losing to East Catholic (9-4) earlier in the month, beat the Eagles 67-61 for the first time in at least 10 years at East Catholic. Lori Riley, Hartford Courant, 28 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for break open

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Break open.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/break%20open. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!