break open

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The novel partnership between students and police to break open a decades-old murder case, with a love triangle at its center, was irresistible fodder for the media’s true-crime boom.

From Slate • Apr. 6, 2026

Indiana’s defensive line was remarkable, constantly harassing Buckeye quarterback Julian Sayin, limiting his ability to break open the field with all that NFL-ready talent.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 7, 2025

But about three years after death, once the organic matter has decomposed, loved ones break open the front slab of the chamber.

From Barron's • Oct. 22, 2025

And as the story continues to break open, devastating revelations keep coming.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 21, 2025

It is called Roots & Shoots because roots move gradually under the ground to make a firm foundation, and shoots seem small and weak, but to reach the light they can break open brick walls.

From "My Life with the Chimpanzees" by Jane Goodall