opportunity

op‧por‧tu‧ni‧ty S1 W1 /ˌɒpəˈtjuːnəti, ˌɒpəˈtjuːnɪti $ ˌɑːpərˈtuː-/ BrE AmE noun (plural opportunities)
1. [uncountable and countable] a chance to do something or an occasion when it is easy for you to do something
opportunity to do something
a rare opportunity to see inside this historic building
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you all.
opportunity for
Games and songs provide an opportunity for classroom interaction.
2. [countable] a chance to get a job or improve your situation at work:
There are fewer opportunities for new graduates this year. ⇨ equal opportunities at ↑equal¹(2)
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ have opportunity I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to travel.
▪ take/use opportunity (=do something you have a chance to do) Several employees took the opportunity to retire early.
▪ seize/grasp an opportunity (=do something very eagerly when you have the chance) She saw an opportunity to speak to him, and seized it.
▪ miss/lose an opportunity (=not do something you have a chance to do) Dwyer never missed an opportunity to criticize her.
▪ give somebody opportunity The children should be given the opportunity to make their own choices.
▪ get an opportunity I decided to go, as I might never get this opportunity again.
▪ provide/present/open up an opportunity The course also provides an opportunity to study Japanese.
▪ an opportunity comes (along/up) We had outgrown our house when the opportunity came up to buy one with more land.
▪ an opportunity arises Perhaps she would explain later, if the opportunity arose.
■ adjectives
▪ a good/great/wonderful etc opportunity It's a great opportunity to try new things.
▪ the ideal/perfect opportunity I'd been wanting to try sailing, and this seemed like the ideal opportunity.
▪ a golden opportunity (=a very good opportunity) The council has missed a golden opportunity to improve the town centre.
▪ a rare/unique opportunity a unique opportunity to stay in a real castle
▪ a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity (=a very good opportunity that you will only get once) For many athletes, the Olympics are a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
▪ a wasted/lost/missed opportunity (=one you do not use) Many people see the failed talks as a missed opportunity for peace.
▪ ample opportunity/plenty of opportunity (=a number of chances to do something) There will be ample opportunity for shopping.
▪ limited/little opportunity (=not many chances) They had little opportunity to discuss the issue beforehand.
■ nouns
▪ a photo opportunity (=a chance to take a good photograph, especially of a particular person) Parents will always look for good photo opportunities at their kid's graduation ceremony.
■ phrases
▪ at the first/earliest opportunity (=as soon as possible) He decided to leave school at the earliest opportunity.
▪ at every (possible) opportunity (=whenever possible) She went to the museum at every opportunity.
▪ a window of opportunity (=a time when you can do something) The other team started making mistakes, but we didn't take advantage of this window of opportunity.
▪ a land of opportunity (=a country where people have a lot of good opportunities) America was then seen as a land of opportunity.
▪ the opportunity of a lifetime (=a very good opportunity that you will only get once) The winner of the contest got the opportunity of a lifetime – the chance to work with a top fashion designer.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

opportunity

op·por·tun·ity [opportunity opportunities] [ˌɒpəˈtjuːnəti] [ˌɑːpərˈtuːnəti] noun countable, uncountable (pl. op·por·tun·ities)
a time when a particular situation makes it possible to do or achieve sth
Syn: chance
• ~ (to do sth) You'll have the opportunity to ask any questions at the end.
• This is the perfect opportunity to make a new start.
• ~ (for sth/for doing sth) There was no opportunity for further discussion.
• There'll be plenty of opportunity for relaxing once the work is done.
• ~ (of doing sth) At least give him the opportunity of explaining what happened.
• Our company promotes equal opportunities for women (= women are given the same jobs, pay, etc. as men).
• an equal opportunities employer
• career/employment/job opportunities
• The offer was too good an opportunity to miss.
• I'd like to take this opportunity to thank my colleagues for their support.
• He is rude to me at every opportunity (= whenever possible).
• They intend to close the school at the earliest opportunity (= as soon as possible).
• a window of opportunity (= a period of time when the circumstances are right for doing sth)
see also photo opportunity
Word Origin:
late Middle English: from Old French opportunite, from Latin opportunitas, from opportunus (see opportune).
Thesaurus:
opportunity noun C, U
• You'll have an opportunity to ask questions later.
chance • • possibility • • occasion • • start • |informal break • |especially spoken turn • • moment • |BrE, spoken go • |especially business window •
the opportunity/a chance/your turn to do sth
an opportunity/possibilities/an occasion for sth
have a/an opportunity/chance/break/turn/moment/go/window
get/give sb a/an opportunity/chance/start/break/turn/moment/go/window
Opportunity or chance? Opportunity tends to be more formal. In some cases only one of the words can be used:
• I won't give him a second chance.
¤ I won't give him a second opportunity.:
• job/equal opportunities
¤ job/equal chances
Example Bank:
• He saw a great opportunity to make some money.
• May I take this opportunity to congratulate Ruth on her promotion.
• Students should take every opportunity to widen their experience.
• The ceasefire has created a window of opportunity to rescue the peace process.
• The company aimed to expand as and when opportunity offered.
• The job will offer you excellent opportunities for promotion.
• We are dedicated to the principle of equal opportunity.
• We didn't get much opportunity to swim.
• We need to give them a reasonable opportunity to look at the display.
• We'll have plenty of opportunity to talk later.
• When the opportunity came, I seized it with both hands.
• a golden opportunity to invest and export into new markets
• a missed sales opportunity
• an equal opportunities employer
• to provide better educational opportunities
• He is rude to me at every opportunity.
• I'd like to take this opportunity to thank my colleagues for their support.
• Our company promotes equal opportunities for women.
• There are more job opportunities in the south.
• There'll be plenty of opportunity for relaxing once the work is done.

• You'll have the opportunity to ask any questions at the end.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

opportunity / ˌɒp.əˈtjuː.nə.ti / / ˌɑː.pɚˈtuː.nə.t̬i / noun

B1 [ C or U ] an occasion or situation that makes it possible to do something that you want to do or have to do, or the possibility of doing something:

Everyone will have an opportunity to comment.

I was never given the opportunity of go ing to college.

[ + to infinitive ] The exhibition is a unique opportunity to see her later work.

An ankle injury meant she missed the opportunity to run in the qualifying heat.

formal Please contact us at the earliest opportunity (= as soon as possible) .

He goes fishing at every opportunity (= as often as possible) .

I used to enjoy going to the theatre, but I don't get much opportunity now.

He had a golden (= an extremely good) opportunity to score in the first half but squandered it.

B2 [ C ] the chance to get a job:

employment/job opportunities

opportunities for young graduates

There are far more opportunities now for school-leavers than there were 50 years ago.

Word partners for opportunity

have / seize / take an opportunity • give / provide / present an opportunity • a golden / great / ideal / perfect opportunity • a rare / unique opportunity • a lost / wasted opportunity • at / every / at the earliest / at the first opportunity • an opportunity for sth

Collins Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

opportunity

/ɒpə(r)tju:nɪti, AM -tu:n-/
(opportunities)

Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.

An opportunity is a situation in which it is possible for you to do something that you want to do.
I had an opportunity to go to New York and study...
I want to see more opportunities for young people.
...equal opportunities in employment.

= chance

N-VAR: oft N to-inf, N for n/-ing

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

opportunity

op·por·tu·ni·ty /ˌɑːpɚˈtuːnəti, Brit ˌ{scriptainv}pəˈtjuːnəti/ noun, pl -ties : an amount of time or a situation in which something can be done : chance

[count]

• You'll have an/the opportunity to ask questions after the presentation.
• There were many missed opportunities (to score) throughout the game.
• When the opportunity came for her to prove that she could do the job, she was ready.
• I had the rare/unique opportunity of speaking to the president.
• Studying abroad provides a great opportunity to learn a foreign language.
• This sort of opportunity comes along once in a lifetime. = This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
• There are fewer job/employment opportunities this year for graduates.
• This is a golden opportunity. [=an excellent chance to do or get something]
• 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.
• The dog ran away at every opportunity. [=whenever it was able to]
• Please call us at your earliest opportunity. [=please call us as soon as you can]
• We will correct the error at the first opportunity. [=as soon as we are able to]

[noncount]

• There is plenty of opportunity for advancement within the company.
• The contract provides us with a two-year window of opportunity. [=two years to do something that we want to do]
• the land of opportunity [=a place where there are many opportunities; a place where people have many chances to succeed, achieve things, etc.]
• You need to be ready when opportunity knocks. [=when you get the chance to do something you want to do]
equal opportunity employer US or Brit equal opportunities employer : an employer who does not discriminate against people because of their race, religion, etc.