Word
opportune
Phoneticsop·por·tune, stress on the third syllable
US/ˌɑpɝˈtun/
UK/ɒpətjˈuːn/
Definition
adj. happening at a very good or useful time. You use this to describe something that helps you achieve a goal because it comes at the right moment.
adj. occurring at a particularly suitable or advantageous time. Often used to describe an event that provides a useful opportunity for a specific action or decision.
Examples
“The rain stopped at an opportune moment for the picnic.”
“The company's stock price dropped at an opportune time, allowing the investor to purchase shares at a significant discount.”
“The sudden resignation of the CEO provided an opportune opening for the board to implement the structural reforms they had been debating for months.”
Examples
simple
“The rain stopped at an opportune moment for the picnic.”
contextual
“The company's stock price dropped at an opportune time, allowing the investor to purchase shares at a significant discount.”
complex
“The sudden resignation of the CEO provided an opportune opening for the board to implement the structural reforms they had been debating for months.”
Real-World Examples
“Don’t deceive your way through a selection process to stand where you think is most opportune to realise your own ambitions.” Etymology
From Old French opportun, from Latin opportunus.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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