opulence
gb/ˈɑpjələns/ us/ˈɑpjələns/
C1
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
formal
C1
abstract
1
great wealth and luxury
having a lot of money and living very luxuriously
Usage pattern:
live in opulence; a life of opulence
Common mistake:
Opulence is usually uncountable: say "opulence" or "a life of opulence," not "an opulence."
Synonyms
affluence (focuses on being wealthy, with less emphasis on luxury.)
|
luxury (high comfort and expensive things; can describe specific goods as well as a lifestyle.)
|
wealth (general financial resources; less about lavish living.)
Antonyms
poverty (lack of money and resources.)
|
austerity (deliberate simplicity and avoidance of luxury.)
Collocations
live in opulence
|a life of opulence
|extreme opulence
|sheer opulence
|wealth and opulence
|opulence and luxury
|opulence and excess
|display of opulence
|symbols of opulence
|enjoy opulence
Themes
money
|lifestyle
|society
Examples
- The photos showed a level of opulence most people only see in movies.
- He grew up in opulence, with private chefs and a staff of housekeepers.
- The report contrasted the opulence of the elite with the hardship in poorer neighborhoods.
Learner examples
- They lived in opulence.
- She left her job for a life of opulence.
Noun
formal
C2
property
2
lavish richness in appearance
the look of being very rich and expensive
Usage pattern:
the opulence of [a room/building/event]
Common mistake:
Don’t confuse with "opulent" (adjective): "an opulent hotel" but "the opulence of the hotel."
Synonyms
grandeur (emphasizes impressive scale and dignity, not necessarily wealth.)
|
lavishness (emphasizes generous use of expensive materials or effort.)
|
splendor (emphasizes beauty and brilliance, sometimes more poetic.)
Antonyms
plainness (lack of decoration or richness of detail.)
|
simplicity (simple style with few extra features.)
Collocations
the opulence of the palace
|the opulence of the interior
|baroque opulence
|gilded opulence
|ornate opulence
|architectural opulence
|hotel opulence
|royal opulence
|lavish opulence
|opulence on display
Themes
arts
|design
|travel
Examples
- Visitors were stunned by the opulence of the ballroom, with its gold leaf and crystal chandeliers.
- The museum’s new wing combines modern lines with a touch of old-world opulence.
- She loved the opulence of the old theater, even though it was slightly faded.
Learner examples
- The opulence of the room surprised me.
Noun
literary
C2
quantity
3
abundant richness or profusion
a very rich and plentiful amount of something
Usage pattern:
the opulence of [flowers/ideas/colors]
Common mistake:
This sense is less common in everyday speech; "abundance" is usually more natural.
Synonyms
abundance (neutral word for having a lot of something.)
|
profusion (suggests a large quantity spreading out or overflowing.)
|
richness (emphasizes depth and variety, not just quantity.)
Antonyms
scarcity (a small or insufficient amount.)
|
sparseness (thin distribution; not dense or abundant.)
Collocations
the opulence of nature
|floral opulence
|opulence of color
|opulence of detail
|opulence of imagery
|opulence of the garden
|seasonal opulence
Themes
nature
|writing
|arts
Examples
- In spring, the valley explodes into an opulence of wildflowers.
- Critics admired the opulence of detail in her writing.
- The film’s opulence of color was inspired by old Technicolor musicals.
Learner examples
- The garden had an opulence of flowers.
Grammar
Expressions
a life of opulence
1/ə lˈaɪf əv ˈɑpjələns/
fixed phrase
formal
a very luxurious lifestyle
a very rich and luxurious life
Examples
- The biography describes his rise from poverty to a life of opulence.
- She wasn’t interested in a life of opulence; she wanted time and privacy.
live in opulence
1/lˈɪv ˈɪn ˈɑpjələns/
fixed phrase
formal
live very luxuriously
to live with a lot of money and luxury
Examples
- While many struggled, a small group continued to live in opulence.
- They moved overseas to live in opulence on the profits from the business.
surrounded by opulence
1/sɚˈaʊndɪd bˈaɪ ˈɑpjələns/
fixed phrase
formal
in a luxurious setting
being in a place that looks very rich and expensive
Examples
- They dined in silence, surrounded by opulence and guarded by staff.
- Even surrounded by opulence, he felt out of place at the gala.