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

Unlike musical theatre or opera, where the music often advances the plot or at least has some kind of narrative content, the cinema of pop-and-rock stardom extrudes fake songs incidentally, almost as a waste product. —Mitch Therieau, New Yorker, 17 Apr. 2026

Mr Cobra evades most classification from there, blending free jazz, musique concrète, ’00s pop, house, industrial techno, and air horns, interlaced with dialogue snipped from Korean folk operas and experimental films. —Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 17 Apr. 2026

Selling cars for a song When opera singer Andrew Hiers took a side gig as a car salesman in Cocoa, Florida, his talent was not as evident on the showroom floor. —David Morgan, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2026

The festival returns May 28 and includes an American opera showcase with New York City Opera, a special concert for America’s birthday with Carnegie Hall, first-ever Brass and Choir Festivals, as well as performances by artists from around the globe. —Jem Aswad, Variety, 16 Apr. 2026

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