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
Lee Sharrock, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
The chief example of rudeness here is shouting admonishments at other opera patrons.
—Judith Martin, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 June 2025
The country music legend, 79, and rock superstars have joined forces on a new version of the latter's timeless hit track, which sees Parton's vocals at their very best, covering the full breadth of the dynamic rock opera alongside Mötley Crüe's Vince Neil's iconic harmonization.
—Chris Barilla, People.com, 20 June 2025
Born in 1935 in Modena into a working-class family – his father was a baker, while his mother worked in a cigar factory – Luciano Pavarotti developed a passion for opera as a child thanks to his father, an amateur tenor.
—Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 11 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for opera
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Noun
The wigs depicted by Yang in her paintings are mounted on Chinese opera mask stands and they are decorated with flowers, jewels, wheat, grasses and fruit.
—Lee Sharrock, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
The chief example of rudeness here is shouting admonishments at other opera patrons.
—Judith Martin, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 June 2025
The country music legend, 79, and rock superstars have joined forces on a new version of the latter's timeless hit track, which sees Parton's vocals at their very best, covering the full breadth of the dynamic rock opera alongside Mötley Crüe's Vince Neil's iconic harmonization.
—Chris Barilla, People.com, 20 June 2025
Born in 1935 in Modena into a working-class family – his father was a baker, while his mother worked in a cigar factory – Luciano Pavarotti developed a passion for opera as a child thanks to his father, an amateur tenor.
—Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 11 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for opera
Cite this Entry
“Opera.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/opera. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.
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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