opportunity
gb/ˌɑpɚtˈunɪti/ us/ˌɑpɚtˈunɪti/
B1
English
~ 700
lehetőség, alkalom, esély
NOUN
B1
1
Usage pattern:
an opportunity to [verb]
She saw the job posting as an opportunity to advance her career.
Az álláshirdetést lehetőségnek tekintette arra, hogy előrelépjen a karrierjében.
Traveling abroad gave him the opportunity to learn a new language.
A külföldi utazás lehetőséget adott neki arra, hogy megtanuljon egy új nyelvet.
We should take this opportunity to improve our services.
This conference is a great opportunity to meet industry leaders.
Don't miss the opportunity to see this rare exhibition.
Learner examples
This is a good opportunity to learn.
Ez jó lehetőség a tanulásra.
I have an opportunity to work in London.
Lehetőségem van Londonban dolgozni.
He took the opportunity to talk to her.
We have an opportunity to help them.
She missed the opportunity to join the team.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'opportunity' with 'possibility'. 'Opportunity' usually implies a favorable chance, while 'possibility' only means something can happen, without implying it is good.
Meaning
Chance to do something
Collocations
miss an opportunity
|take the opportunity
|career opportunity
|once-in-a-lifetime opportunity
|business opportunity
Synonyms
chance (More general and can refer to any possibility, not always favorable or planned.)
|
opening (Often used for job or position availability.)
Antonyms
misfortune (Refers to bad luck or an unlucky situation, the opposite of a favorable chance.)
|
setback (An event that makes progress harder, the opposite of a helpful circumstance.)
Themes
daily life
|business
|career
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A time or situation when you can do something you want or need to do.
A set of circumstances that makes it possible to do something desirable or necessary.
Grammar
Dictionary form
opportunity
IPA
GB/ˌɑpɚtˈunɪti/
US/ˌɑpɚtˈunɪti/
Syllables & stress
op - por - tun - ity (4 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (por)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: opportunity
- Plural: opportunities, opportunity
Word family
Forms
opportunities
noun
Related words
opportunist
noun
opportunistic
adjective
Negative and opposite forms
inopportune
adjective
Advanced or less common
opportunism
noun
opportunistically
adverb
Expressions
miss an opportunity
1/mˈɪs ən ˌɑpɚtˈunɪti/
fixed phrase
Fail to use a chance
To not use a chance to do something good or helpful.
Examples
- She missed an opportunity to speak with the manager.
- We don't want to miss an opportunity like this again.
once-in-a-lifetime opportunity
1/wˈʌns ˈɪn ə lˈaɪftˌaɪm ˌɑpɚtˈunɪti/
fixed phrase
Very rare special chance
A very rare and special chance that will probably not happen again.
Examples
- Winning the scholarship was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for him.
- Traveling to Antarctica is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
take the opportunity
1/tˈeɪk ðə ˌɑpɚtˈunɪti/
fixed phrase
Use a chance available
To use a chance when it is there.
Examples
- I took the opportunity to visit my old friends while I was in town.
- She took the opportunity to improve her skills.
window of opportunity
1/wˈɪndoʊ əv ˌɑpɚtˈunɪti/
fixed phrase
Short favorable period for action
A short time when you can do something successfully before the chance goes away.
Examples
- We have a narrow window of opportunity to influence the decision.
- We have only a small window of opportunity to act before the deadline.
- Don’t miss this window of opportunity to invest early.
- The rescue team had a narrow window of opportunity due to the weather.