opera

1 of 2

plural of opus

opera

2 of 2

noun

op·​era ˈä-p(ə-)rə 

 Southern also  ˈä-prē

1

: a drama set to music and made up of vocal pieces with orchestral accompaniment and orchestral overtures (see overture entry 1 sense 2) and interludes (see interlude sense 2)

specifically : grand opera

Beethoven composed only one opera.

2

: the score (see score entry 1 sense 6) of a musical drama

The composer finished the opera in just six weeks.

3

: the performance of an opera

The opera was delayed a half hour due to technical difficulties.

also : a house where operas are performed

We'll meet you at the opera at 7 p.m.

Examples of opera in a Sentence

Noun

I am going to an opera tonight.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The result is a gritty crime opera with something of a documentary-esque sensibility. —Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2025

Verdi’s always-heartfelt opera features soprano Jamie Chamberlin and tenor Nathan Granner, real-life partners who will sing the leading roles of the impassioned Violetta and Alfredo. —Randy McMullen, Mercury News, 23 Oct. 2025

Dohnányi began to ascend through the ranks of the German opera world, moving from Lübeck and Kassel to Frankfurt and Hamburg. —Alex Ross, New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2025

But the two also love opera and decided last year to take a road trip with their friends to tailgate before the performance. —Zach Wichter, USA Today, 19 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

borrowed from Italian, "work, labor, artistic production, drama set to music (originally short for opera musicale, opera in musica)," going back to Latin, "activity, effort, attention, work," collective derivative from oper-, opus "work, effort, product of labor" — more at opus

First Known Use

Noun

1848, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing opera

• comic opera
• grand opera
• horse opera
• light opera
• opera buffa
• opera glass
• opera hat
• opera house
• opera seria
• soap opera
• space opera
• the opera

Kids Definition

opera

1 of 2

plural of opus

opera

2 of 2 noun

op·​era ˈäp-(ə-)rə 

1

: a play in which usually the entire text is sung with orchestral accompaniment

2

: the performance of an opera

operatic

ˌäp-ə-ˈrat-ik

adjective