opportunity
Americannoun
-
an appropriate or favorable time or occasion.
Their meeting afforded an opportunity to exchange views.
-
a situation or condition favorable for attainment of a goal.
-
a good position, chance, or prospect, as for advancement or success.
noun
-
a favourable, appropriate, or advantageous combination of circumstances
-
a chance or prospect
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
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
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.
Vocabulary lists containing opportunity
Figurative Language in King's "I Have a Dream" Speech (1963)
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Words for a New Year
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"Principles of Business," Vocabulary from Chapter 1
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
See Examples For:
A relentlessly driven, shrewd deal-maker and entrepreneur, Allen is used to defying skeptics and seeing opportunity in assets overlooked by others.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 27, 2026
"There was no opportunity to talk to her. She didn't show any interest."
From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026
European officials said that leaves emergency responders a small window of opportunity to contain the fires.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026
Is this an opportunity to leave it to heirs, give it to charity or further your own education?
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 27, 2026
Because they were often denied the opportunity to receive schooling around the turn of the twentieth century, when Daddy was born, about half of Colored people at that time were unable to read.
From "Reaching for the Moon" by Katherine Johnson
Backus and Enquist set the foundation for what softball is today, paving the way for new opportunities by sacrificing for the greater good of softball’s future.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 27, 2026
Despite not being authorised to, Burford had offered trade alerts and investment opportunities in "managed funds" through his firm Financial Trading Strategies between 2016 and 2021.
From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026
But as economic growth became more widespread later in the 2010s, families started leaving for opportunities elsewhere, said Connor O’Brien, a fellow at think tank the Institute for Progress.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026
That could create new opportunities for studying consciousness, memory, emotional processing, and mental health.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 27, 2026
“Because your father has had plenty of opportunities to help and he hasn’t, Marcus. Not once.”
From "Marcus Vega Doesn't Speak Spanish" by Pablo Cartaya
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
