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

Aside from helping develop Hong Kong’s modern structures, bamboo has also played an integral role in building temporary Cantonese opera theaters. —Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 27 Nov. 2025

After pursuing the musical arts for a majority of his life, Hawkins found community in his time at the Des Moines Metro Opera, which featured a cast of predominantly Black opera singers. —Sophia Arndt, Twin Cities, 27 Nov. 2025

In Doha, Qatar, Lori Harvey attended the Fashion Trust Arabia 2025 Awards in a gold Zuhair Murad gown with a black ribbon around the waist and added sheer black opera gloves. —Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 26 Nov. 2025

Billy Corgan teamed up with the Lyric Opera of Chicago for A Night of Mellon Collie and Infinite Sadness, an opera concert series which premiered on Friday at the Civic Opera House in Chicago. —Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 22 Nov. 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