How to Use break open in a Sentence

break open

phrasal verb
Definition of break opennext
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • If a blister breaks open on its own: Gently wash the area with clean water only.
    — Michael Menna, Verywell Health, 5 June 2023
  • 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
  • Who is the Indian nationalist who falls in love with the song or has her heart broken open by it?
    — Emily Lordi Philip Cheung, New York Times, 10 May 2024
  • The scuffle unfolded in the bottom of the seventh inning, after Atlanta had broken open a close game with four runs in the top of the frame.
    — Marlene Lenthang, NBC News, 29 Aug. 2023
  • The 49ers broke open the scoring early in the second quarter, with Jake Moody drilling a 55-yard field goal—at that point, the longest in Super Bowl history.
    — Brett Knight, Forbes, 11 Feb. 2024
  • Wilson was later able to break open a window and scream for help, prompting bystanders to call the police, the citation said.
    — Ray Padilla, The Courier-Journal, 23 Aug. 2023
  • The escapees broke open some eroded fencing, hid between the fence and the next wall until dark, slid under an 8-inch gap in the wall, and scaled two razor-wire fences, Travis said.
    — Saman Shafiq, USA TODAY, 28 May 2024
  • Flor’s celebration breaks open a dam of truth, emboldening her beloveds to change their lives for the better.
    — Patricia Engel, Washington Post, 9 Aug. 2023
  • If blistering occurs, do not break open the blisters as this can slow the healing process or cause an infection.
    — Drs. Kate Oberlin, Keyvan Nouri and Lawrence Schachner, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024
  • In the seventh inning, Los Angeles scored four additional runs to break open the game.
    — Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 12 May 2024
  • The case was broken open in part thanks to cell phone data, credit card bills and DNA testing, authorities have said.
    — Polo Sandoval, CNN, 17 July 2023
  • Even worse, Stanford wasn’t competitive down the stretch as the Beavers broke open a close game, outscoring the Cardinal 26-15 over the final eight minutes.
    — Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 25 Feb. 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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