Trivia Time

In its Latin origin, opportunity is linked to what idea?

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opportunity

American  

[op-er-too-ni-tee, -tyoo-] / ˌɒp ərˈtu nɪ ti, -ˈtju- /

noun

• opportunities
  plural

1. 

   an appropriate or favorable time or occasion.

   Their meeting afforded an opportunity to exchange views.

2. a situation or condition favorable for attainment of a goal.

3. a good position, chance, or prospect, as for advancement or success.

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opportunity British  

/ ˌɒpəˈtjuːnɪtɪ /

noun

1. a favourable, appropriate, or advantageous combination of circumstances

2. a chance or prospect

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• opportunities
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of opportunity

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English opportunite, from Middle French, from Latin opportūnitās “convenience, fitness,” equivalent to opportūn(us) ( see opportune) + -itās -ity

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Explanation

Seize the noun, opportunity, if you're talking about circumstances that allow you do to something you'd like to do. Wouldn't you love to have the opportunity to meet your favorite musician? When the situation is right for you to do something you're interested in doing, you have the opportunity to do it. The word comes from the Latin phrase, ob portum veniens "coming toward a port" which refers to a favorable wind blowing ships into the harbor. Think of an opportunity as something a good wind blew your way.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

opportunity opportunities

It follows a warning earlier this week from Heathrow's chief executive, who said that not building a third runway at the UK's busiest airport would be a "huge missed opportunity".

From BBC ● Oct. 17, 2026

“There is an enormous opportunity in executive travel, corporate travel, events.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026

“I don’t really want to take it for granted for the opportunity to be able to play with these guys,” Ohtani said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026

That gives scientists an unusual opportunity to track how a giant black hole responds as its supply of material changes.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 16, 2026

Penelope seized the opportunity to ask, “As I said, it is the man called Quinzy who foiled your plans, not us. Will you tell me how you came to know him to begin with?”

From "The Unseen Guest" by Maryrose Wood

The moves have removed risk from the balance sheet “and transformed EchoStar into an investment company with meaningful further opportunities to unlock value,” he wrote in a note to clients on Friday while relaunching J.P.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 16, 2026

Well, I mean, there are a lot of intersections of opportunities for Elon Musk, and I also think he discovered, to use a phrase of his, the anomaly in the matrix for the American system.

From Salon ● Oct. 16, 2026

Remedies Cornell eventually introduced included banning freshmen from attending Greek parties during their first semester and shortening the pledging period from eight weeks to four to reduce opportunities for hazing.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026

Although researchers are still learning how these receptors operate, they appear to offer additional opportunities for strengthening plant defenses.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 15, 2026

Yet in order to take advantage of these new opportunities, food surpluses and improved transportation were not enough.

From "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari

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Related Words

• convenience
• event
• excuse
• freedom
• hope
• moment
• space
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