opera
1 Americannoun
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an extended dramatic composition, in which all parts are sung to instrumental accompaniment, that usually includes arias, choruses, and recitatives, and that sometimes includes ballet.
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the form or branch of musical and dramatic art represented by such compositions.
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the score or the words of such a composition.
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a performance of one.
to go to the opera.
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(sometimes initial capital letter) an opera house or resident company.
the Paris Opera.
noun
noun
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an extended dramatic work in which music constitutes a dominating feature, either consisting of separate recitatives, arias, and choruses, or having a continuous musical structure
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the branch of music or drama represented by such works
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the score, libretto, etc, of an opera
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a theatre where opera is performed
noun
Etymology
Origin of opera
1635–45; < Italian: work, opera < Latin, plural of opus service, work, a work, opus
Explanation
An opera is a theatrical piece that tells a story totally through the music. It consists of recitatives which provide the narrative plot line and elaborate chorus singing, along with duets and arias, which are the parts we most remember. We get the word opera from the Latin and, later, from the Italian, a noun formed from the word operari, "to work." The style evolved in Italy around 1600, and was initially unrealistic, mainly a chance for soloists to show off. In the mid-18th Century the focus shifted to both strong story and exquisite singing. Emotion is an important quality, a trait carried over to "soap operas" which have no singing but plenty of fake tears.
Vocabulary lists containing opera
Music - Introductory
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Music - Middle School
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Theater - Introductory
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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.
Fans in Manchester, N.H., were suddenly able to follow the soap opera at Manchester United, while supporters in Madrid, N.M., could decode the Kremlinological goings-on of Real Madrid.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 5, 2026
In Mozart’s opera, Tamino, a prince in a fairyland of mystic temples and mystifying gods, relies on his supernatural flute that turn sorrow into joy to get him out of jams.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 5, 2026
He helped found the Mahler Chamber Orchestra and won a Grammy Award in 2010 for best opera recording for Benjamin Britten's Billy Budd with the London Symphony Orchestra.
From BBC • May 26, 2026
Before launching his presidential bid, De la Espriella lived in Florence, Italy, where he dabbled in opera, jetted around in private planes and promoted his rum and wine businesses.
From Barron's • May 25, 2026
If I hadn't made him watch so many episodes of Days of Our Lives, he wouldn't have developed a nasty habit of speaking in the vernacular of a soap opera villain.
From "Americanized" by Sara Saedi
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.
