opportunity

noun

op·​por·​tu·​ni·​ty ˌä-pər-ˈtü-nə-tē 

-ˈtyü-

plural opportunities

1

: a favorable juncture of circumstances

the halt provided an opportunity for rest and refreshment

2

: a good chance for advancement or progress

Synonyms

• break
• chance
• occasion
• opening
• room
• shot

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

Gilmore acknowledges the game isn’t the same now with name, image and likeness opportunities and, soon, direct payments to athletes becoming larger factors in putting together and keeping together a team. —Eric Olson, Chicago Tribune, 21 June 2025

This opportunity explains why VW has continued to work on autonomous ride hailing while car companies like General Motors and Ford have already given up after nearly a decade of hype and billions of dollars invested. —Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 21 June 2025

Suddenly Flips More Women in Senior Leadership Starts With Breaking Barriers Ensuring more women have the opportunity to become CEOs begins with understanding why so few are promoted or hired into senior leadership roles. —Liz Elting, Forbes.com, 21 June 2025

Wright’s two-way intelligence and skating speed popped off the ice for Seattle this season, and hinted strongly at the sort of difference-maker that Wright has an opportunity to develop into in the years to come. —The Athletic Nhl Staff, New York Times, 21 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English oportunyte, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French oportunité, borrowed from Latin opportūnitāt-, opportūnitās, from opportūnus "convenient, opportune" + -itāt-, -itās -ity

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing opportunity

• at every opportunity
• at someone's earliest opportunity
• at the first opportunity
• equal opportunity
• equal opportunity employer
• golden opportunity
• land of opportunity
• opportunity cost
• photo opportunity
• seized on the opportunity
• when opportunity knocks
• window of opportunity

Rhymes for opportunity

• autoimmunity
• importunity
• community
• disunity
• immunity
• impunity
• munity
• unity

Kids Definition

opportunity

noun

op·​por·​tu·​ni·​ty ˌäp-ər-ˈt(y)ü-nət-ē 

plural opportunities

1

: a favorable combination of circumstances, time, and place

2

: a chance to better oneself