break open

verb

To make a breakthrough on a mystery or problem; to cause a breakthrough to be made.

“I think I broke this case open.”

Similar
forceburstspliteruptirruptflare upflareburst out
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Meanings

verbbreak open (third-person singular simple present breaks open, present participle breaking open, simple past broke open, past participle broken open)

present singular third person breaks open · participle present breaking open · past broke open · participle past broken open

  1. idiomaticTo make a breakthrough on a mystery or problem; to cause a breakthrough to be made.

    I think I broke this case open.

    1 more example

    The new evidence has broken this case open.

    Synonyms: force

  2. ambitransitiveUsed other than figuratively or idiomatically: see break, open.

    Lacking a corkscrew, he broke the bottle open.

Synonyms & antonyms

verbTo make a breakthrough on a mystery or problem; to cause a breakthrough to be made.

Similar
force

More synonyms by meaning

verbcome open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure

Similar
burstsplit
Broader
breakseparatesplit up

verberupt or intensify suddenly

Similar
eruptirruptflare upflareburst out
Broader
intensifydeepen
Also see
burstburst outeruptflareflare upirruptsplit

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Cite this entry
APA

break open. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/break%20open

MLA

“break open.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/break%20open. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “break open,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/break%20open.

Source: break open on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.