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)
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
Christina Mayo, Miami Herald, 10 Apr. 2024
Rumer, 35, sported a pink Monique Lhuillier gown with a plunging bodice and accessorized with opera gloves.
—Catherine Santino, Peoplemag, 10 Apr. 2024
The following year Ruo embarked on an opera based on ancient Chinese myth.
—Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2024
Schlosberg doesn’t aim to replicate operas at a smaller scale.
—Joshua Barone, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2024
The model poses in a lacy, hot pink bodysuit and matching opera gloves, a replica of the outfit Dua wore during her high-grossing 2022 trek.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 14 Mar. 2024
Your mother was an opera singer and your father a stagehand.
—Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2024
Get an exclusive glimpse into the creation of Cincinnati Opera’s world stage premiere production of McCartney’s opera.
—Luann Gibbs, The Enquirer, 24 Mar. 2024
The California Theatre will be the venue for a performance during the South First Friday art walk on Friday, April 5 at 5:30 p.m., as well as for an April 25 panel discussion with performers, artists and others at 3 p.m. to talk about the background of Catán’s opera.
—Anne Gelhaus, The Mercury News, 24 Mar. 2024
Noun
The event will showcase the talents of 10 top young opera singers who will compete in a program featuring some of the most beloved pieces from the classical repertoire.
—Christina Mayo, Miami Herald, 10 Apr. 2024
Rumer, 35, sported a pink Monique Lhuillier gown with a plunging bodice and accessorized with opera gloves.
—Catherine Santino, Peoplemag, 10 Apr. 2024
The following year Ruo embarked on an opera based on ancient Chinese myth.
—Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2024
Schlosberg doesn’t aim to replicate operas at a smaller scale.
—Joshua Barone, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2024
The model poses in a lacy, hot pink bodysuit and matching opera gloves, a replica of the outfit Dua wore during her high-grossing 2022 trek.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 14 Mar. 2024
Your mother was an opera singer and your father a stagehand.
—Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2024
Get an exclusive glimpse into the creation of Cincinnati Opera’s world stage premiere production of McCartney’s opera.
—Luann Gibbs, The Enquirer, 24 Mar. 2024
The California Theatre will be the venue for a performance during the South First Friday art walk on Friday, April 5 at 5:30 p.m., as well as for an April 25 panel discussion with performers, artists and others at 3 p.m. to talk about the background of Catán’s opera.
—Anne Gelhaus, The Mercury News, 24 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'opera.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Opera.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/opera. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
opera
1 of 2plural 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
adjective
ˌäp-ə-ˈrat-ik
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