opportunity

op·por·tu·ni·ty | \ ˌä-pər-ˈtü-nə-tē

How to pronounce opportunity (audio)

, -ˈtyü- \

plural opportunities

Definition of opportunity

1 : a favorable juncture of circumstances the halt provided an opportunity for rest and refreshment

2 : a good chance for advancement or progress

Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about opportunity

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Examples of opportunity in a Sentence

A phony war because its stated objective—eradicating terrorism—is impossible and serves to mask unstated, alarmingly open-ended goals, a kind of fishing expedition that provides an opportunity for America to display its intimidating arsenal … — John Edgar Wideman, Harper's, March 2002 Nowadays my only opportunity for an old-fashioned, self-indulgent sulk comes when I'm traveling. — Ian Frazier, Atlantic, March 2001 I'm handing you an opportunity in the heart of the city where the whole world's heading: journalists, corporate leeches, Japanese tourists, Greco-Roman wrestlers. — Gary Smith, Illustrated, 11 Sept. 2000 More than 90 percent of female senior managers believe that men's and women's opportunities remain unequal … — Katha Pollitt, Atlantic, November 1997 You'll have an opportunity to ask questions after the presentation. When the opportunity came for her to prove that she could do the job, she was ready. I had the rare opportunity of speaking to the president. Studying abroad provides a great opportunity to learn a foreign language. There are fewer job opportunities this year for graduates. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who helped me with this book. He was given every opportunity to prove that he was trustworthy. There is plenty of opportunity for advancement within the company.

Recent Examples on the Web The fundamentals were all there, though, so there was an opportunity for the show to course correct. — Brendan Morrow, TheWeek, "The Twilight Zone’s second season is far from perfect — but it’s promising," 27 June 2020 Decorate your own parade vehicles: For many kids, the best part of the parade is the opportunity to decorate their bikes and show them off. — Amy Schwabe, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "No fireworks, parades or community gatherings? Here's what your family can do on the 4th of July instead.," 27 June 2020 Earlier that day, some of the men in the family went golfing together, which may have been another opportunity for exposure. — Claire Gillespie, Health.com, "18 Members of a North Texas Family Test Positive for COVID-19 After Attending a Surprise Party," 26 June 2020 The annual parents clinic, which Taylor called one of the key pillars for youth football development in Northeast Ohio, is an opportunity to check those boxes. — Dan Labbe, cleveland, "Browns annual parents clinic goes virtual in effort to educate on youth football and needs of young athletes," 26 June 2020 This is an opportunity to do something equitable like divesting in policing and investing money in services to deal with issues the police aren’t equipped to handle. — Otis R. Taylor Jr., SFChronicle.com, "People from streets provide best path out of homelessness," 25 June 2020 But the absence of other sounds is an opportunity to remember that the world around us is playing a continual symphony. — Helen Czerski, WSJ, "The Complex Music of Car Tires," 25 June 2020 Moving into your school's dorms is an exciting opportunity to let your personality shine. — Kristina Mcguirk, Better Homes & Gardens, "Create a Home-Away-from-Home with These Dorm Decorating Ideas," 25 June 2020 That is an opportunity to bind yourself to other human beings. — Polly Campbell, Cincinnati.com, "How to have better dinner table conversations, from someone who's done it for a living," 19 June 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'opportunity.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Learn More about opportunity

Dictionary Entries near opportunity

opportunity cost

opportunity school

Statistics for opportunity

Last Updated

30 Jun 2020

Cite this Entry

“Opportunity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/opportunity. Accessed 3 Jul. 2020.

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More Definitions for opportunity

opportunity

noun

English Language Learners Definition of opportunity

: an amount of time or a situation in which something can be done

See the full definition for opportunity in the English Language Learners Dictionary

opportunity

op·por·tu·ni·ty | \ ˌä-pər-ˈtü-nə-tē

, -ˈtyü- \

plural opportunities

Kids Definition of opportunity

1 : a favorable combination of circumstances, time, and place He practices guitar at every opportunity.

2 : a chance for greater success “… learning secretarial skills is an exciting opportunity for me …”— Lemony Snicket, The Austere Academy

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