opportunity

From Middle French opportunité, from Latin opportunitas

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˌɒp.əˈtjuː.nɪ.tɪ/, /ˌɒp.əˈt͡ʃuː.nɪ.ti/
• (General American) enPR: ä'pər-to͞oʹnə-tē, IPA^(key): /ˌɑpɚˈtunəti/
• Hyphenation: op‧por‧tu‧ni‧ty

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opportunity (countable and uncountable, plural opportunities)

1. A chance for advancement, progress or profit.

   The world is full of opportunities and it's up to me to see them and pursue them.

   • 2011 October 23, Becky Ashton, “QPR 1 - 0 Chelsea”, in BBC Sport‎:

     Chelsea also struggled to keep possession as QPR harried and chased at every opportunity, giving their opponents no time on the ball.

2. A favorable circumstance or occasion.

   Having a holiday is a great opportunity to relax.

3. (nonstandard, Euro-English) opportuneness

   The Court questioned the opportunity of introducing these measures in such an uncertain economic climate.

• opportunity in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• opportunity in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.