opportunity
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.
Oxford Essential Dictionary
opportunity
noun (plural opportunities)
a chance to do something; a time when you can do something that you want to do:
I didn't get the opportunity to visit them.
It was a golden (= perfect) opportunity and I decided to take it.
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
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 COBUILD 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.
