opportunity
B1Formal to Neutral
Definition
Meaning
A favourable or advantageous combination of circumstances; a chance or opening for action or advancement.
A specific time, situation, or event that makes it possible to do something you want to do, often leading to improvement, success, or a positive outcome. It implies a degree of preparedness to act.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word inherently contains a positive evaluation of the situation; a 'bad opportunity' is semantically contradictory. It is often temporally bounded, presenting a limited window for action.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or syntactic differences. The collocation 'job opportunity' is slightly more frequent in American English.
Connotations
Identical in both varieties, strongly associated with meritocracy, self-improvement, and socio-economic advancement.
Frequency
Equally high-frequency in both corpora. The phrase 'equal opportunities' is a fixed, high-frequency collocation in socio-political discourse in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
opportunity to + infinitiveopportunity for + noun/gerundopportunity of + gerund (more formal)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “window of opportunity”
- “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity”
- “opportunity knocks”
- “equal opportunities”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to market gaps, potential deals, or chances for profit and expansion (e.g., 'a lucrative investment opportunity').
Academic
Used to discuss research possibilities, grants, or chances for scholarly contribution (e.g., 'an opportunity to publish in a leading journal').
Everyday
Describes chances for personal enjoyment, social interaction, or life improvement (e.g., 'an opportunity to catch up with old friends').
Technical
In fields like computing or engineering, can refer to a specific state of the system that allows an action (e.g., 'a scheduling opportunity for the task').
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I had the opportunity to visit London last summer.
- This is a good opportunity to learn English.
- He missed a great opportunity to score a goal.
- The job offers many opportunities for travel.
- She took the opportunity to ask for a promotion.
- We should use this opportunity to improve our services.
- The conference presented an unparalleled opportunity for networking with industry leaders.
- Failing to act now would mean letting a golden opportunity slip through our fingers.
- The policy aims to create equal opportunities in education for all children.
- The geopolitical shift has created a strategic opportunity for renegotiating trade agreements.
- His serendipitous discovery in the archives provided a unique scholarly opportunity to reassess the historical narrative.
- Entrepreneurs must be adept at pivoting their business model to capitalise on emergent market opportunities.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'OPPORTUNITY' as a door (PORT) that has been opened (OP-) for you (U) at the perfect time (-NITY). It's your lucky port in a storm.
Conceptual Metaphor
OPPORTUNITY IS AN OPEN DOOR / A WINDOW / A CHANCE ENCOUNTER / A LIMITED-TIME OFFER.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calques like 'возможность случая'. Use 'возможность' for general possibility and 'шанс' for a favourable, often fleeting, chance. The phrase 'предоставить возможность' closely matches 'to provide an opportunity'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'possibility' interchangeably in positive contexts (a 'good possibility' is awkward). Incorrect preposition: 'opportunity of doing' is formal, 'opportunity to do' is standard. Spelling error: 'oppertunity'. Using an indefinite article with uncountable 'opportunity' in abstract sense (e.g., 'He has opportunity' is incorrect; needs 'an' or 'the').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the LEAST likely synonym for 'opportunity' in a formal business context?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Opportunity' typically implies a favourable situation that aligns with one's goals or preparation. 'Chance' is more neutral, referring to any possibility, and can also mean luck or randomness. You 'take advantage of' an opportunity, but you 'take a' chance.
Both are correct, but 'a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity' is the more common and idiomatic expression in modern English.
Rarely. It is almost always countable (an opportunity, many opportunities). The uncountable use is abstract and formal (e.g., 'There is little opportunity for advancement here'), but even then, it is often used with a determiner like 'little' or 'much'.
For actions, 'opportunity to + infinitive' is most common ('an opportunity to travel'). For describing the area or purpose, 'opportunity for + noun/gerund' is used ('opportunity for growth', 'opportunity for travelling'). The formal 'opportunity of + gerund' is less frequent.
Collections
Part of a collection
Global Issues
B2 · 47 words · Vocabulary for discussing world problems and politics.
Innovation
B2 · 46 words · Language of innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship.