How to Use break open in a Sentence

break open

phrasal verb
  • The Lancers added a run in the fourth and put up five in the fifth to break open the game.
    — Kevin J. Farmer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 May 2024
  • Earlier in the night, the Giants couldn’t find the big hit to break open the game.
    — Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 7 May 2024
  • An area of the plaque can break open, causing a blood clot and blocking the blood flow.
    — Yuliya Klochan, Health, 14 Apr. 2024
  • Sheehan made a few adjustments and led by 10 at the end of the third and then broke open the game in the fourth.
    — Lori Riley, Hartford Courant, 10 Mar. 2024
  • Ulin tried to break open the vial against the tray table in front of her, unsure of what to do next.
    — Erika Edwards, NBC News, 3 May 2023
  • There is a bird that loves to eat beeswax but is unable to break open a bees' nest to get it.
    — Melissa Breyer, Treehugger, 29 June 2023
  • Instead, it’ll be seen as the time when something broke open.
    — Angela Watercutter, WIRED, 26 July 2024
  • Birch, maple, and walnut will bleed sap if cut before the leaf buds break open.
    — Markis Hill, Kansas City Star, 14 Feb. 2025
  • The Thunder broke open the game with a 20-0 run midway through the second quarter.
    — Darnell Mayberry, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2025
  • The Packers scored touchdowns on their first two drives in the second half to break open a four-point game.
    — The Salt Lake Tribune, 11 Sep. 2023
  • Lucia Lee broke open on a fast break and scored the game-winning goal with 10:24 left in the second half.
    — Craig Clary, Baltimore Sun, 26 July 2023
  • The contest was tied at 1-1 until the fifth inning when the Dragons broke open the game with a six-run frame.
    — Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Apr. 2025
  • Hereford 17, Lansdowne 4: The Bulls broke open a one-run game with six runs in each the third and fourth innings.
    — Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 29 Apr. 2024
  • After a few tries, the pellet breaks open, and in his palm a small, pinkish tablet spills out.
    — Greg Myre, NPR, 19 Dec. 2024
  • Jared Goff took the shotgun snap and Reynolds quickly broke open on an option route past the line to gain.
    — Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 29 Jan. 2024
  • Something in me broke open, then just as quickly slammed shut.
    — Rebecca Gummere, TIME, 8 May 2024
  • Rescue teams used a backhoe and dug 3 to 4 feet down to reach the pipe, then used sledgehammers to break open the pipe.
    — Jennifer Rodriguez, Kansas City Star, 13 May 2025
  • Even as her heart broke open in front of him, though, Grace found the strength to finally stand up for herself.
    — Caroline Framke, Vulture, 23 Dec. 2024
  • In the clip, rescuers carefully break open a hole in the wall with a sledgehammer.
    — Raven Brunner, Peoplemag, 15 May 2024
  • The tiki torch top can break open and/or fall off while lit, posing a burn hazard.
    — Neal Riley, CBS News, 29 Mar. 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
  • The rescue scene was at times chaotic, with people climbing over wrecked pieces of the trains to break open doors and windows.
    — Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY, 3 June 2023
  • The security box where the agents had kept a key was broken open, and a new mailbox had been placed out front.
    — Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2024
  • 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
  • If a blister breaks open on its own: Gently wash the area with clean water only.
    — Michael Menna, Verywell Health, 5 June 2023
  • These capsules can be taken as is or broken open and added to liquids or soft foods.
    — Willow Jarosh, Ms, Rd, Health, 18 Oct. 2024
  • The Toreros broke open a one-run game with a five-run sixth inning that provided a 9-3 advantage.
    — Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 May 2024
  • This broke open a new era of Clippers basketball that became known as Lob City.
    — Hanif Abdurraqib, The New Yorker, 3 July 2024
  • The front office doesn’t need to break open any binders for contingency plans starting with what to do with a top-four pick.
    — Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 14 May 2024
  • But the Patriots broke open the game in third when Menzel singled and scored on Covell’s double to start it off.
    — Lori Riley, Hartford Courant, 1 June 2024

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'break open.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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