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

Prelude to The End arrives on the heels of last Friday’s release of The Black Parade (20th Anniversary), the landmark rock opera by the Jersey pop-punkers that’s considered one of the most influential in the ever-evolving emo genre. — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 30 Oct. 2026

Using Raymond’s drawings and his own observations of the boy, Bob created Deafman Glance, a seven-hour silent opera that signaled his European renown. — Keith McDermott, Vanity Fair, 30 Oct. 2026

But in reality, opera is all about human stories — the relationships between people, between humans and nature, and between individuals and the wider society. — Denni Hu, Footwear News, 30 Oct. 2026

Literature, theater and operas furthered her interest in spinning tales of her own. — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 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