opera

1 of 2

plural of opus

opera

2 of 2

noun

op·​era ˈä-p(ə-)rə How to pronounce opera (audio)
 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
Audiard developed the film’s screenplay from what was initially intended to be an opera libretto in four acts. Clayton Davis, Variety, 3 Oct. 2024 That’s good news for opera lovers who want to hear Paër’s rarity in full: These performances mark its North American premiere. Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 2 Oct. 2024 Angelina Jolie Takes the Stage as Opera Diva Maria Callas in Emotional Maria Trailer Despite the ongoing legal drama with Pitt, the actress is enjoying the warm reception to Maria, a film about opera legend Maria Callas, which is Jolie’s first acting role in three years. Eric Andersson, People.com, 1 Oct. 2024 Zweig was a versatile writer, producing biographies, essays, plays, poems, short stories, novellas — an opera libretto for Richard Strauss (Die schweigsame Frau). Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 30 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for opera 

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.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of opera was in 1848

Dictionary Entries Near opera

Cite this Entry

“Opera.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/opera. Accessed 11 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

opera

1 of 2

plural of opus

opera

2 of 2 noun
op·​era ˈäp-(ə-)rə How to pronounce opera (audio)
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
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