opine
Americanverb (used with or without object)
verb
Other Word Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
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has opinedperfect 3rd person singular
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have opinedperfect
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is opiningprogressive 3rd person singular
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have been opiningperfect progressive
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opinessingular 3rd person
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are opiningprogressive
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am opiningprogressive 1st person singular
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opiningparticiple
-
has been opiningperfect progressive 3rd person singular
Past
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had opinedperfect
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were opiningprogressive plural
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was opiningprogressive singular
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opinedsimple
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had been opiningperfect progressive
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opinedparticiple
Future
Etymology
Origin of opine
First recorded in 1575–85; is from Latin opīnārī “to think, deem”
Explanation
The verb opine is used when someone speaks up and expresses an opinion. You might opine that dogs are highly preferable to cats. Whenever you have something to say about a subject, you have the option to opine about it or keep your mouth shut. Movie critics opine about the best films of the year, and kindergarten kids opine that they'd rather not take a nap. Opine can also describe what you suppose will happen, like when you opine that school lunches will improve because of the new cook. The Latin opinari, or have an opinion, is the root of opine.
Vocabulary lists containing opine
25 Words from "Baseball and Black History"
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Eats, Shoots & Leaves
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This Week In Words: Current Events Vocab for September 26–October 2, 2020
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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.
He says he told the chatbot, “I wasn’t trying to have you opine about my divorce at every chance.”
From The Wall Street Journal • May 25, 2026
We leave it to others to opine on whether the current split is optimal.
From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026
The answer was a very direct "no", but Ross took the chance to opine that "this stinks".
From BBC • Feb. 20, 2026
This reaction is an unfortunate relic of the internet, where people too dim to know better feel free to opine, whereas many people with more going on upstairs have the sense to shut up.
From Salon • Jun. 13, 2025
"Do you opine that Othello smothered the princes in the Tower?" asked a third.
From A Night on the Borders of the Black Forest by Edwards, Amelia Ann Blanford
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.
