Home British & World English opportunity

Definition of opportunity in English:

opportunity

nounopportunities

1A time or set of circumstances that makes it possible to do something.
‘increased opportunities for export’
‘the night drive gave us the opportunity of spotting rhinos’
- ‘I think he should be given the opportunity of looking at these before I make an order.’
- ‘It was an opportunity of a lifetime and I was really pleased to have the chance to meet him.’
- ‘There will be plenty of opportunities for family swimming in the new swimming and training pools.’
- ‘It proposes opening up opportunities for private organisations to run their own schools.’
- ‘Besides this, there will be more opportunities for direct sourcing of plants overseas.’
- ‘There are huge opportunities for local companies and businesses to become more involved.’
- ‘Languages with fewer borrowed words obviously tend to have fewer opportunities for puns.’
- ‘We believe it will also increase opportunities for musicians and other artists to perform.’
- ‘There will be demonstrations and opportunities for young people to actually try things.’
- ‘He will also be responsible for exploring new opportunities for the operation.’
- ‘These close approaches are superb opportunities for everyone to observe the red planet.’
- ‘Parents cannot afford to miss out on good investment opportunities for their children.’
- ‘The cluster team will focus on new opportunities for the development of new timber products.’
- ‘It is an activity which contains very few opportunities for genuine excitement.’
- ‘There are also opportunities for people to get involved in a more hands-on manner.’
- ‘Despite opportunities for both sides, the second half did not produce any more goals.’
- ‘We believe that there are big opportunities for customers to use these services.’
- ‘The manager intends there to be many more opportunities for the team to develop.’
- ‘To do that would simply deprive many people of the opportunity of a better environment.’
- ‘The time scale involved may make it not possible to afford an opportunity to comment.’
chance, lucky chance, good time, golden opportunity, time, occasion, moment, favourable moment, favourable occasion, favourable time, right set of circumstances, appropriate moment, appropriate occasion, appropriate time, suitable moment, suitable occasion, suitable time, opportune moment, opportune occasion, opportune time, opening, option, window, window of opportunity, slot, turn, go, run, clear run, field day
View synonyms
1. 1.1A chance for employment or promotion.
  ‘career opportunities in our New York headquarters’
  ‘He went on to say that if the roads were built the employment opportunities would come.’
  ‘It is developing a course to help unemployed people get in on these new employment opportunities.’
  ‘He added that it was also good news for the people of Shap as there would be more employment opportunities.’
  ‘This would allow others to benefit from our taxes and employment opportunities.’
  ‘He was confident the work on the town centre would help create employment opportunities.’
  ‘Local employment opportunities will be created as businesses move into the area.’
  ‘The aim of the event is to give young people a taste of career opportunities available in the Armed Forces.’
  ‘For many expats, career opportunities are just as important as family concerns.’
  ‘Those seeking discharge too soon may find good career opportunities hard to find.’
  ‘Hedare must really care about their staff to give them career opportunities like that.’
  ‘It kind of solidifies the buzz around your career and makes more opportunities open to you.’
  ‘It seems women only want to be equal with men in regards to pay and career opportunities.’
  ‘He told us that all staff would have the chance to find other job opportunities within IBM.’
  ‘There are also plenty of opportunities for enthusiastic writers here in Oxford.’

Phrases

opportunity knocks

A chance of success occurs.
‘with the right support, opportunity knocks’
- ‘Then one day opportunity knocks, but there's a price to pay…’
- ‘World Book Day is on March 6 and opportunity knocks.’
- ‘When opportunity knocks, these politicians tend to ignore it.’
- ‘But if opportunity knocks, Cassie would prefer to stick with her studies and stay firmly behind-the-scenes.’
- ‘In their case opportunity knocks on their doors whenever there's a wedding in the family.’
- ‘But if you're not willing to walk the walk, then you won't be ready when opportunity knocks.’
- ‘When opportunity knocks, pressure is not far behind.’
- ‘Then, when opportunity knocks, you'll be ready to answer.’
- ‘You always stay prepared so that when opportunity knocks, you're ready to open that door - and step through it.’
- ‘Everyone, or nearly everyone, has shared in the boom, and opportunity knocks for all who seek to better themselves.’