opportunityop‧por‧tu‧ni‧ty /ˌɒpəˈtjuːnəti $ ˌɑːpərˈtuː-/ ●●● S1 W1 noun (plural opportunities) 
a rare opportunity to see inside this historic building I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you all.opportunity for Games and songs provide an opportunity for classroom interaction.2[countable] a chance to get a job or improve your situation at work: There are fewer opportunities for new graduates this year. → equal opportunities at equal1(2)COLLOCATIONSverbshave opportunity· I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to travel.take/use opportunity (=do something you have a chance to do)· Several employees took the opportunity to retire early.seize/grasp an opportunity (=do something very eagerly when you have the chance)· She saw an opportunity to speak to him, and seized it.miss/lose an opportunity (=not do something you have a chance to do)· Dwyer never missed an opportunity to criticize her.give somebody opportunity· The children should be given the opportunity to make their own choices.get an opportunity· I decided to go, as I might never get this opportunity again.provide/present/open up an opportunity· The course also provides an opportunity to study Japanese.an opportunity comes (along/up)· We had outgrown our house when the opportunity came up to buy one with more land.an opportunity arises· Perhaps she would explain later, if the opportunity arose.adjectivesa good/great/wonderful etc opportunity· It's a great opportunity to try new things.the ideal/perfect opportunity· I'd been wanting to try sailing, and this seemed like the ideal opportunity.a golden opportunity (=a very good opportunity)· The council has missed a golden opportunity to improve the town centre.a rare/unique opportunity· a unique opportunity to stay in a real castlea once-in-a-lifetime opportunity (=a very good opportunity that you will only get once)· For many athletes, the Olympics are a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.a wasted/lost/missed opportunity (=one you do not use)· Many people see the failed talks as a missed opportunity for peace.ample opportunity/plenty of opportunity (=a number of chances to do something)· There will be ample opportunity for shopping.limited/little opportunity (=not many chances)· They had little opportunity to discuss the issue beforehand.nounsa photo opportunity (=a chance to take a good photograph, especially of a particular person)· Parents will always look for good photo opportunities at their kid's graduation ceremony.phrasesat the first/earliest opportunity (=as soon as possible)· He decided to leave school at the earliest opportunity.at every (possible) opportunity (=whenever possible)· She went to the museum at every opportunity.a window of opportunity (=a time when you can do something)· The other team started making mistakes, but we didn't take advantage of this window of opportunity.a land of opportunity (=a country where people have a lot of good opportunities)· America was then seen as a land of opportunity.the opportunity of a lifetime (=a very good opportunity that you will only get once)· The winner of the contest got the opportunity of a lifetime – the chance to work with a top fashion designer.
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- After they had refused him the opportunity of improving his position, he resigned.
- All he needs is an opportunity to show his ability.
- All over the world women are demanding equal opportunities.
- Career opportunities for nurses have improved in the last 10 years.
- Educators are worried about rapidly diminishing opportunities for graduates.
- It was too good an opportunity to pass up.
- She was delighted to have an opportunity to talk with someone who shared her interest in classical music.
- There are several opportunities for experienced designers and researchers.
- We see this as an exciting opportunity for our companies to work together.
- Clinton could challenge his allies to face that difficult reality and begin formulating alternative means for expanding opportunity.
- Critics had the opportunity to write poetically of the ceaseless, easy flow of rivers and this one in particular.
- I bowed to each one, smiling whenever one of them gave me the opportunity.
- If it came, it came; it was no reason to turn from opportunity.
- On the other hand, in urban areas there are now more opportunities for women with high school education to find jobs.
- Problem-solving time is also an ideal opportunity to get some insight into how you are feeling and how your child is feeling.
- That is an opportunity cost just like investment analysts view opportunity costs.
Longman Language Activatorto use an opportunity
: take the opportunity to do something · I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your help.take the opportunity of doing something · I'm going to take every opportunity of going to see Brian while he's living in Germany.
informal to quickly use an opportunity to do something, especially when you think you might not get another chance: · It may be the last time he offers you the job so I'd grab the chance while you can.grab the chance to do something: · Knowing how difficult it is to find a job I grabbed the chance to be trained as an electrician.
to eagerly and quickly use an opportunity to do something: · The early retirement plan is excellent and I'm surprised that people haven't jumped at the opportunity.jump at the chance/opportunity to do something: · When the resort was put up for sale, the Millers jumped at the chance to buy it.· She thought Lewis would jump at the opportunity to make some extra money on weekends.jump at the chance/opportunity of doing something: · Who wouldn't jump at the chance of spending a month in Australia?
to do something quickly, while you are in a situation in which you are most likely to be successful: · Don't wait until tomorrow before you tell him, strike while the iron is hot!
spoken to take the opportunity to do something now while the conditions are good, because you might not be able to do it later: · Let's make hay while the sun shines and finish this project before I start falling asleep.
someone who always looks for and takes opportunities that might make them more successful -- used to show disapproval: · It is difficult to tell whether he really wants to help May or whether he is just an opportunist.· As the finance company started to fail a few opportunists managed to make more money out of it.
when you have the chance to do something a situation in which it is possible for you to do something enjoyable, useful, or exciting, or something that you want to do: chance to do something: · I never got the chance to thank him for all his help.· It's a beautiful building - you should go and see it if you have a chance.give somebody a/the chance to do something: · I wish he'd just give me the chance to explain.take the chance to do something (=use a chance when you have it): · You should take the chance to travel while you are still young.chance for somebody to do something: · "Back to School Night" will be a chance for parents to meet their child's teacher.somebody's last chance (=when you will not have another chance): · It was her last chance to see him before she left town.
a chance to do something, especially something that is important or useful to you, or something that you want to do very much: · It was too good an opportunity to pass up.opportunity to do something: · All he needs is an opportunity to show his ability.opportunity of doing something: · After they had refused him the opportunity of improving his position, he resigned.opportunity for somebody to do something: · We see this as an exciting opportunity for our companies to work together.have an/the opportunity (to do something): · She was delighted to have an opportunity to talk with someone who shared her interest in classical music.equal opportunities (=the same opportunities as other people): · All over the world women are demanding equal opportunities.
informal a sudden or unexpected chance to do something, especially to be successful in your job: · Gary wants to work in television. He's just waiting for a break.lucky break: · Seeing that advertisement in the paper was a lucky break for me.big break: · Nimoy's big break in television came in the mid-'60s, when he won the role of Spock on "Star Trek".
· I got a grant from my university to study in the USA for a year. It's a golden opportunity!a golden opportunity (for somebody) to do something · The management course is being paid for by the company and it's a golden opportunity to improve your skills.
the chance to do something very exciting or important that you might never be able to do again: · This job is the chance of a lifetime. You'd be a fool not to take it.· If you don't hurry up and make a decision, you could miss the chance of a lifetime.
a chance to do things you want to do, in the way that you want to do them. Scope is more formal than room: · He refused the post because he felt it didn't offer him much scope.room/scope for: · There will always be room for debate and disagreement in this class.· I have two jobs, which doesn't leave much room for socializing.· Despite our recent success, there is still scope for improvement.room/scope to do something: · We've left the course deliberately vague, so there's room to concentrate on your particular areas of interest.· Better paid labour means greater scope to increase the company's profits.
the chance of being successful at something in the future, especially your job: · He had no job, no family, no home, no prospects.· Employers are now offering more jobs with quality training and excellent career prospects.prospects for: · The prospects for an alliance between the two nations do not look good.
the chance to do something: possibility for: · The possibilities for improvement are endless.· We need to investigate all possibilities for helping these children.
to give someone an opportunity to do something, for example the opportunity to do a particular job: · My experience in the Peace Corps really opened doors for me when I started looking for a job.· Alice Coachman's Olympic success opened the door for generations of African-American track athletes.
to not use an opportunity: miss a chance/an opportunity of · Denise never misses the chance of a free meal.miss a chance/an opportunity to do something · Don't miss this great opportunity to fly for half price.· Dan never misses an opportunity to remind me that I still owe him money.miss your chance/opportunity · Jerry's already sold the car to someone else. You've missed your chance.
to not use the chance to do something enjoyable or useful, especially when this is not a good thing: · If you don't come to the picnic you'll miss out on all the fun.· I don't want to be the type of father who is so busy he misses out on his daughter's childhood.
informal to waste a chance that you had to do or get something good: · Don't panic and talk too much in the interview or you'll really blow it.· I was afraid I'd blown my chance but she agreed to go out again on Saturday night.blow your chances of doing something: · She started running much too fast at the beginning and blew her chances of winning the race.
informal to be too late to use an opportunity to do something good: · Buy your shares in the company now or you'll miss the boat.· He didn't get his application in early enough so he missed the boat.
to not use a good opportunity when you are able to, especially an opportunity that you will not get again: · We had an opportunity to win the championship last season and we let it slip through our fingers.
an opportunity that you wasted by not using it to become successful, enjoy yourself etc: · If you don't take the job it'll just be another lost opportunity in your life.
a job that is available a job that is available, and that someone could start doing immediately: · There might be some vacancies at the hospital.vacancy for: · A vacancy exists for an import/export sales manager at our Paris office.fill a vacancy (=find someone to do the job): · Skilled workers are few, and employers are having trouble filling vacancies.
a job that is available - used especially by managers or by people asking about jobs: · Of the fourteen openings, only one went to a minority candidate.opening for: · I was wondering if you had any openings for sales staff?job openings: · The journal has been a good way to publicize job openings.
the chance to do a job that you want to do, which could lead to a good permanent job: opportunity for: · There are several opportunities for experienced designers and researchers.career opportunities: · Career opportunities for nurses have improved in the last 10 years.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRYverbs It afforded her the opportunity to improve her tennis skills. You’ll have ample time for questions later. There is ample evidence that climate patterns are changing. They were glad of the chance to finally get some sleep. She grabbed the opportunity to go to America. The scheme offers an ideal opportunity for youngsters to get training. If you hesitate, you may lose the opportunity to compete altogether. The career center will help you maximize your opportunities. The opportunity was too good to miss so we left immediately. The course offers the opportunity to specialize in the final year. I don’t think you should pass up the opportunity to go to university. He relishes the chance to play Hamlet.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE
· I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to travel.
(=do something you have a chance to do)· Several employees took the opportunity to retire early.
(=do something very eagerly when you have the chance)· She saw an opportunity to speak to him, and seized it.
(=not do something you have a chance to do)· Dwyer never missed an opportunity to criticize her.
· The children should be given the opportunity to make their own choices.
· I decided to go, as I might never get this opportunity again.
· The course also provides an opportunity to study Japanese.
· We had outgrown our house when the opportunity came up to buy one with more land.
· Perhaps she would explain later, if the opportunity arose.
adjectives· It's a great opportunity to try new things.
· I'd been wanting to try sailing, and this seemed like the ideal opportunity.
(=a very good opportunity)· The council has missed a golden opportunity to improve the town centre.
· a unique opportunity to stay in a real castle
(=a very good opportunity that you will only get once)· For many athletes, the Olympics are a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
(=one you do not use)· Many people see the failed talks as a missed opportunity for peace.
(=a number of chances to do something)· There will be ample opportunity for shopping.
(=not many chances)· They had little opportunity to discuss the issue beforehand.
nouns (=a chance to take a good photograph, especially of a particular person)· Parents will always look for good photo opportunities at their kid's graduation ceremony.
phrases (=as soon as possible)· He decided to leave school at the earliest opportunity.
(=whenever possible)· She went to the museum at every opportunity.
(=a time when you can do something)· The other team started making mistakes, but we didn't take advantage of this window of opportunity.
(=a country where people have a lot of good opportunities)· America was then seen as a land of opportunity.
(=a very good opportunity that you will only get once)· The winner of the contest got the opportunity of a lifetime – the chance to work with a top fashion designer.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES· I wish that I’d accepted the opportunity to retire when it was offered.
It afforded her the opportunity to improve her tennis skills. You’ll have ample time for questions later. There is ample evidence that climate patterns are changing.· Students often know little about the career opportunities available to them.
(=jobs that are available for people to apply for)· There are very few employment opportunities in the area.
· The government must make sure that all children have equal opportunities in education.
formal· The government must ensure equality of opportunity for all children.
· The job offers an exciting career opportunity for the right individual.
· The debate will give MPs an opportunity to express their views in detail.
They were glad of the chance to finally get some sleep. She grabbed the opportunity to go to America. The scheme offers an ideal opportunity for youngsters to get training.· She took advantage of a unique investment opportunity.
If you hesitate, you may lose the opportunity to compete altogether. The career center will help you maximize your opportunities. The opportunity was too good to miss so we left immediately. The course offers the opportunity to specialize in the final year. I don’t think you should pass up the opportunity to go to university.· There are plenty of opportunities to improve your skills.
He relishes the chance to play Hamlet.· In other words, we must motivate our learner to think, and give her ample opportunity to do so.· We felt we had ample opportunities to express our differences through discreet channels.· In fact there was ample opportunity to achieve this objective.· You can re- create a rundown play involving four different defensive players and still have ample opportunity to observe the next pitch.· Conflict: there is ample opportunity for this information to be acquired and used by other divisions within the conglomerate.· We gave him ample opportunity to leave with class and style, reputation intact.· In the nursery class, a semi-structured interview schedule was used, with ample opportunity for expanding answers.· This provides the reader or reviewer ample opportunity to write notes in regard to your material.
· Fighting against threats to young children's rights to early childhood opportunities could be seen as an expression of legitimate collective responsibility.· But I will, at my earliest opportunity, pursue the dastardly suspicions raised by these most unexpected and perhaps revealing clues.· If you are wrongfully dismissed, you should therefore seek alternative employment at the earliest opportunity.· That is what we intend to do when we remove the Government from office at the earliest opportunity.· It should be noted that this type of shelf should be replaced with something more suitable at the earliest opportunity.· As he had done in Pretoria Braam Van Straaten easily landed two of his three early opportunities.· I asked for that to be done at the earliest opportunity, the following morning at 9 o'clock.· Having searched this field to the best of my ability I left with the intention to return at the earliest opportunity.
· Some of them, like some Karavas, seized available economic opportunities and joined the new élite.· I imagine for better economic opportunity.· A very high proportion of prisoners come from a background of grossly limited educational and economic opportunity.· He also reckons the economic opportunities aren't fantastic for Internet companies any more.
· Second, general educational opportunities are under threat.· Crystal has had steady, stable personal relationships, family support, the benefits of first-rate community programs, and educational opportunities.· There were tasks for everyone which took account of intelligence, educational opportunities and personal gifts.· But, little by little, educational opportunities began to be foreclosed for girls.· The famous Education Act of 1944 extended educational opportunity but did little to alter the nature of it.· Women are discriminated against in employment and educational opportunities and suffer from pervasive cultural and traditional biases and prejudices.· Like Dorothy Heathcote, he is interested in giving children an educational opportunity.· They saw in educational television the opportunity to get a jump start on quality education at comparatively low cost.
· These will cover areas such as equal opportunities, multi-cultural education, cross-curricular themes, competences and dimensions and special needs.· Since Partnerships have a responsibility to achieve equal opportunities for all young people, community organisations should participate at the planning stage.· The equal opportunities strategy is, the writers claim, likely to be self-defeating.· Partnerships should develop strategies for promoting equal opportunities.· They need to be aware, and should be, of equal opportunity policies as well as trends and developments in their professional environment.· As statutory services continue to implement an equal opportunities policy these matters will need sensitive handling by social services.· At its heart was the pressure of blacks and of their liberal white supporters for equal opportunities in education.· The intention, to create a curriculum which gives equal opportunity to all, is admirable.
· The agenda gave Sutton a golden opportunity to stamp his authority on the paper.· But the country as a whole may have missed a golden opportunity to put its fiscal house in order.· Local radio Here is your golden media opportunity for local radio is an expanding market place for public relations.· Personally, I think you have a golden opportunity before you.· This is the golden land of opportunity.· To some animals, this moisture is their golden opportunity and perhaps their signal for dispersal.· For the Treasury this presented a golden opportunity to recover its traditional dominance which it had lost during the war.· Tamny was appalled that Harleston had passed up a golden opportunity to dismiss Jeffries.
· A golf tournament with royal patronage was too good an opportunity for a publicity-minded company to miss.· Analysts rate the area one of the few good domestic opportunities for new gambling ventures during the coming year.· This closes the opponent off and presents you with a good opportunity to continue the block into the opponent's face.· That, he said, suggests better opportunities for diagnosing nerve damage, and better chances for rehabilitating injured patients.· Dave Thomas, spokesman for the band, said it was a good opportunity for the band to reach a wider audience.· Who ever had a better opportunity?· Most of these exercises are double cast so that there are good opportunities for several readings of the main characters.
· The contracting culture should mean greater opportunities for voluntary sector providers, but Mussenden identifies problems.· A much greater opportunity, as everyone agreed.· The earlier that users were involved in systems design, the greater the opportunity to introduce systems in a flexible manner.· He said he thinks the spouses were looking for a place with greater shopping opportunities.· Davidson had of course great opportunity for influence upon Baldwin, and he used it to the full on this occasion.· So the great opportunity for planning had been lost.· We also had lots of room, which provided great opportunities not only for tall buildings but for wide buildings.
· Male speaker Our community has three artists working from these workshops and this seemed an ideal opportunity to show their work.· Problem-solving time is also an ideal opportunity to get some insight into how you are feeling and how your child is feeling.· Workshops are an ideal opportunity to meet tutors and exchange ideas with fellow students.· This was an ideal opportunity for a friend of mine who is a gifted seminar leader.· Many catering colleges consider the award to be an ideal opportunity to evaluate their students' progress against other catering colleges.· It is exclusive to Club 18-30, and offers an ideal opportunity to meet other couples on holiday.· However, it is an ideal opportunity to meet one's colleagues on a regular basis and to discuss matters of concern.
· A hectic, but enjoyable annum ahead brings masses of new openings and opportunities to explore and exploit.· With each shift come new opportunities and threats for affected organizations.· And we intend to give council tenants new opportunities themselves to improve the flat or house in which they live.· If there is any truth to the saying that out of adversity comes new opportunities, then the timing is perfect.· The way this business is moving, you really never know what exciting new opportunities are just around the corner.· Retrospective conversions and new resources offer opportunities for scholars, but they do pose problems for librarians.· Staff would have new opportunities to gain additional skills and benefit from greater flexibility.· The expanding non-agricultural sector itself provided farmers with new opportunities and incentives.
· This match must have seemed the perfect opportunity for him to display his undoubted pace.· For Joseph LaRue, it was the perfect opportunity to do some growing up.· Slightly puzzled, he decided to wait for the perfect opportunity.· My phone call was a perfect opportunity for you to go public with the information.· Charles had a perfect opportunity to show the world that the Waleses are a family reunited.· Car rides, like mealtimes, can be perfect opportunities for conversations.· So here was the perfect opportunity for the profession as a whole to look decisive and effective.· A visit to West Dorset also offers a perfect opportunity to try your hand at windsurfing.
· These records provided a rare opportunity to study the attenuation of strong seismic waves as a means of assessing seismic hazard.· I believe that in his treatment of me, I had the rare opportunity to see exactly how a person treats himself.· Otherwise Signor Gismondi would not have granted you this rare opportunity.· They are a rare opportunity to penetrate the usual wall of indifference.· I only ask because you may miss a rare opportunity to improve you life in April, due to misplaced prejudice.· Taylor offered his group a rare opportunity: the freedom to do basic research for a handsome corporate salary.· Today is a rare opportunity for Ulster Members to have parliamentary time.· It represents a rare opportunity to bring your own bottle, without incurring a corkage fee.
· There seems to have been very little resentment that Eva should have such a unique opportunity.· This is a unique opportunity not available to trainees elsewhere.· But it seemed a waste not to seize the unique opportunity to stretch your brain on something that genuinely excited you.· You should, therefore, act now to take advantage of a unique investment opportunity.· This is a unique and irreplaceable opportunity.· University offers a unique opportunity to study subjects not offered at school as well as those of which applicants may have some experience.· That certainly would have created a unique photo opportunity.
NOUN· Never has the start of a new decade been met with such exciting business opportunities.· Bimpson recognised a business opportunity when he discovered that the government had secured domain names for all the schools in his borough.· As general economic conditions and business opportunities change, so must the budget change.· In due course there may be significant business opportunities in these countries, but the immediate need is for educational help.· It will be expensive, but such innovation will lead to new business opportunities.· These can provide the basis of a new business opportunity with relatively little risk.· Jackson estimated the total potential value of these business opportunities at $ 200 million.
· A decision to save by building up money balances no longer carries with it the high opportunity cost that it once did.· Empowerment increases the opportunity costs of children, prompting later marriages and increasing the divorce rate, similarly lowering fertility.· This reflects the actual opportunity cost of the resources to society as a whole.· Lost revenues during shutdown periods are opportunity costs that can temporarily reduce profits.· Their social opportunity cost may be close to zero.· The opportunity cost will be the higher of the two options i.e. £5,000.· Using the opportunity cost concept, we consider the alternative.· Such continued reliance on paper will represent an increasing opportunity cost to organisations.
· Women had the vote, and education and employment opportunities had increased significantly for single women.· She said she reported the incident to the company's equal employment opportunity manager, who took no immediate action.· For the people, this meant stable price levels, rising living standards, and increased employment opportunities.· Low Countrymen emigrated to the interior, often temporarily, to take advantage of employment opportunities.· Blacks migrated to the District, first to avoid slavery and then for federal employment opportunities which free enterprise long denied.· But agriculture and industry together account for two-thirds of national income and four-fifths of national employment opportunities.
· So has the parallel progress of women's education, giving them at least in theory the same job opportunities as men.· They expect me to prepare them for this job and their next job opportunity.· Technology and innovation Superstores provide many job opportunities.· I believe there is a direct correlation between the creation of job opportunities and the number of nominees you see every year.· It is argued that the measures would restrict training and job opportunities.· They see the outdoors as a recreation activity, not a job opportunity.· We needed an effective and interesting way of telling our jobseekers about training and job opportunities in the clothing industry.· As school enrollments increase, job opportunities for assistant principals will grow.
· Often the local press are looking more for a photo opportunity than a story.· During the talks, a news blackout eliminated contact with the press except for photo opportunities.· Never have soundbites, photo opportunities and spin mattered so much.· You get great photo opportunities on this tour and interesting commentary from the guide.· It's just that Diana hogs all the photo opportunities.· Dole has been more adept at seizing photo opportunities in his out-of-town forays.· Posturing while she checks her lip gloss. Photo opportunity with the dying.· Most never really progress beyond the photo opportunity stage of involvement.
VERB· At the same time it afforded a public opportunity for emulation in what Veblen would have termed conspicuous waste.· Some of these may well have afforded opportunities for wealth accumulation and polygamy.· As Lyman and Scott explain: Free territory is carved out of space and affords the opportunities for idiosyncrasy and identity.· Advanced courses afford the opportunity to study classical religious and anti-religious texts of influential philosophers from Plato to Sartre.· Sexuality affords us the opportunity of transgressing the barrier separating life from death.· She was a professional; she couldn't afford to let opportunities pass.· Neither believes that absolutely no one should ever be afforded opportunities that are not the birthright of their class.
· Shortly after graduating in 1987, the opportunity arose to work with former Napier student, Tom Kidd.· Take the opportunity, when it arises, to convey something of help or value to the receiver.· As they gain confidence in the therapist opportunities will arise again for these issues to be discussed.· Radio people are keen professionals so find out who makes the decisions and seize opportunities as they arise.· A opportunity arose from a primary study of proliferation in gastric malignancy to investigate BrdUrd labelled gastric mucosa.· Plenty of animals take up unlikely opportunities as they arise.· Mickie then and there decided that if the opportunity arose he would team up with Raoul on future helicopter design.
· Agriculture has also been the beneficiary of rapid industrial growth and urban development, which have created expanding market opportunities.· It creates opportunity for the storefronts along Congress, all too many of which are vacant these days.· Delicately Louisa had tried again and again to create the opportunity, but she had been allowed no room.· Gutfreund felt the firm created the opportunity for Rubin and therefore deserved the bulk of the rewards.· The provision of the equipment does not ensure the mathematical experience, but can create opportunity for it.· They come out in large numbers and create a great photo opportunity when rising out of the snow.· It was another United man, Phil Neville, whose run created the opportunity.· Public organizations can create a spectrum of opportunities, which different communities can seize as they are ready.
· The Society will continue to review business opportunities to develop the Group's activities.· At the other end of the spectrum, young lawyers joining prestigious firms often have little opportunity to develop close client relationships.· There will also be opportunities to develop or practice consultancy and training skills.· And there are few opportunities for students to develop such ability before they enroll in those courses.· Management here is aimed at giving pupils the opportunity to develop these characteristics.· Some states, such as Oklahoma, give the parties the opportunity to develop a procedure for resolving impasses.· I am keen for them to have a greater opportunity to develop both their working and their family lives.· It also provides opportunities for pupils to develop vital skills and learning strategies that can be applied across the school curriculum.
· The rally gives owners an opportunity to meet fellow enthusiasts and even the chance to buy.· This was a thinly disguised device designed to give Harleston the opportunity to ease Jeffries out painlessly and to find a replacement.· Charge payers are therefore given at least two opportunities to pay their community charge instalment.· I wanted to give our activists every opportunity to prepare themselves for the firestorm of controversy and political backlash that would ensue.· But it does give us an opportunity to examine our institutions.· This extends across all five years and gives students the opportunity to handle animals from the start of the course.· Instead the market has expanded, giving all operators the opportunity to make a profit.· Within three months it was obvious that, given the opportunity, these children could be very bright.
· Isabel had grasped the opportunity of his presence to escape from Gloucester.· Perhaps only Chandos boss Brian Couzens would grasp an opportunity like that.· One person will grasp an opportunity with enthusiasm, whereas another will recoil from the same chance with anxiety and fear.· Seth and his followers quickly grasped their opportunity and immediately closed the lid and fastened it securely.· The Prime Minister failed to grasp that opportunity.· Many labour-only subcontractors have grasped the opportunity to expand initially to a labour and material sub-contractor and subsequently to a general contractor.· Should not the Government grasp that opportunity?
· Secondment is an opportunity for them to learn at first hand about the world of work to which their students are aspiring.· Working in the kitchen to prepare a meal provides opportunities to learn about weights, measures, and fractions-and cooperation.· Everyone has a contribution to make to ward teaching and the student should take every possible opportunity to learn.· My involvement with counseling was marked by continuing opportunity to learn and by a strange draw toward more and more troubled people.· It compounded what had been learnt, and gave the opportunity to learn new skills through five different types of dive.· In this procedure, the processing elements compete for the opportunity of learning.· There you will have the opportunity to learn about clog making and cheese preparation.· For this reason, learning organisations invest in creating face-to-face opportunities for learning and knowledge sharing as as well as information technologies.
· Thus, a person who becomes a slave loses this opportunity.· It would be stupid, though, to lose the opportunity that all of this presents.· It would be terrible if you lost this opportunity.· The concern in 1970 was that women were losing ground in educational opportunities.· They have lost that opportunity, and it will not come again this side of the election.· Having lost the opportunity to oppose the factory itself, local opposition first focused on the factory's dumping plans.· The impact of lost opportunity on organizational performance will always be problematic.
· Those participating had the opportunity to meet with top government and industry officials in the host nations.· Informal chats with guests provide an excellent opportunity to meet consumers and answer their questions about farming and food production.· Diamond apparently was delighted with his opportunity to meet President Zedillo.· The rally gives owners an opportunity to meet fellow enthusiasts and even the chance to buy.· It is exclusive to Club 18-30, and offers an ideal opportunity to meet other couples on holiday.· I constantly sought cover from a host of opportunities to meet my Maker.
· The Waterford vase had gone - she had missed her opportunity.· Many of them therefore missed early opportunities for building good will among their subordinates, just when they needed it most.· Not being a woman to miss an opportunity, she described their previous meeting.· The missed opportunities and hidden costs for Zappo were enormous.· Once again in desperate time trouble, Karpov misses this golden opportunity.· Of course, we had an excuse; we had to have an excuse for missing such a huge opportunity.· His tenure is described as a succession of missed opportunities.· But the country as a whole may have missed a golden opportunity to put its fiscal house in order.
· Then Saughton Sports Centre is offering an ace opportunity you can't turn down.· The daily firings produced by the withering economy offered loopholes of opportunity for a young man who kept his eyes open.· Over the past 18 months we have launched a number of products offering opportunities for existing customers.· It offers plenty of opportunity for discussion.· A visit to West Dorset also offers a perfect opportunity to try your hand at windsurfing.· In spite of the protection offered by equal opportunity laws, women tend to be overlooked and receive fewer promotions.· Retrospective conversions and new resources offer opportunities for scholars, but they do pose problems for librarians.· The 1996 Olympic Torch Relay offers such an opportunity.
· It opens up opportunities to supply a wide variety of users with information which is timely, accurate, significant and relevant.· The fliers knew there was a spoiler on the horizon, knew that delay might open a window of opportunity for others.· Despite the requirement to open contracts and business opportunities to all comers, somehow those countries manage to choose their own nationals.· Taylor said the opening up of opportunities for minorities in television would lead to more opportunities in films.· This can open up new opportunities and create social mobility.· Even limiting the choice to alternative financial assets still opens up many opportunities.· We will make financial assistance available for part-time study. Open up new opportunities for study.· To become pro-active, keep an eye open permanently for opportunities to take further steps forward towards profit.
· Whether the vendors' financial arrangements present any structuring opportunities?· The time for adding new water presents an opportunity for cleaning the tank generally and giving close inspection to the inhabitants.· Dudley also presented Richard Baxter with opportunities for public preaching.· The turmoil of reorganization always presents such opportunities.· A debate would present a good opportunity to underline the fact that many countries are experiencing far more difficulties than we are.· Every one of these nodes presents the opportunity for snooping.· For many visitors to the country the stations might present the main opportunity to see apartheid in action.· The results are likely to come as a surprise presenting many untapped market opportunities and will certainly dispel complacency.
· This programme was designed to improve their relationship with Gary by providing opportunities for mutually reinforcing activities.· Trips provide opportunities for learning geography and map reading.· Today's carriage visit to Grasse provided a most suitable opportunity.· And parenthood does provide opportunities to help children help themselves: Get to know your children.· The enlarged Group provides enhanced opportunities for portfolio rationalisation through sales and asset swaps.· Team members stay in one job for several months, but can then change to provide fresh challenges and opportunities.· Group treatment can also provide an opportunity for patients to share experiences and learn from each other.· The market provides plenty of opportunities, and trade-offs.
· Some of them, like some Karavas, seized available economic opportunities and joined the new élite.· Leaders seize opportunities and push ahead.· Their desire to leave farming will simply be increased and they will seize the first opportunity to move.· Over most of the twentieth century organizations worried about choosing and seizing growth opportunities through adding capacity and people.· A local feudal family, the BalÜici, seized their opportunity and established themselves as rulers of Zeta.· How do you seize the opportunity?· Radio people are keen professionals so find out who makes the decisions and seize opportunities as they arise.· The elite nature of the scientists and their consequent alienation from many of these changes prevent them from seizing upon these opportunities.
· I also took the opportunity of giving them Mr Connon's phone number so they could contact me if they wished.· I had taken the opportunity to break out a pair of bright red suspenders with large gold dollar signs running down them.· These shears are not generally available to the public, so take this opportunity to acquire a pair now.· I hope that all hon. Members representing Northern Ireland will take the opportunity to invest in the economic future of the Province.· Mr Young said he has had to sell stock he would prefer to keep in order to take advantage of new opportunities.· I hope that they will take the opportunity to ask Mr. Millan to release these moneys for the benefit of their areas.· Grateful to be spared the unsettling power of that dark gaze, Ronni took the opportunity to study him for a moment.· He had taken the opportunity of riding for a big stable with both hands and notched his first Group race victory.
· Voice over Derby had one more chance to balance the books but Paul Kitson wasted a glorious opportunity by blasting wide.· They pointed to the wasted opportunities.· Not to mention wasted opportunity for the thousands of amputees better deserving of such an opportunity.· The campaign does not want to waste the opportunity.· All the other matches ended in draws but Nottinghamshire wasted an opportunity to go top of the table at Lord's.· They paid dearly for wasting goalscoring opportunities.· Then Wayne Bullimore wasted a great opportunity for Barnsley after he beat Gittens.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► seize a chance/an opportunity/the initiative
1[countable, uncountable] a chance to do something or an occasion when it is easy for you to do somethingopportunity to do something- By not buying that stock, I missed a golden opportunity to become a millionaire.
- As a result a company may have a golden opportunity to remove its operators from their central role in controlling production.
- But the country as a whole may have missed a golden opportunity to put its fiscal house in order.
- But Tories have attacked the decision and say a golden opportunity to boost foreign trade links could have been lost.
- Classic footage, but a golden opportunity wasted to trace his career from his Olympic gold medal days.
- For the Treasury this presented a golden opportunity to recover its traditional dominance which it had lost during the war.
- Personally, I think you have a golden opportunity before you.
- Tamny was appalled that Harleston had passed up a golden opportunity to dismiss Jeffries.
- The agenda gave Sutton a golden opportunity to stamp his authority on the paper.
- One person will grasp an opportunity with enthusiasm, whereas another will recoil from the same chance with anxiety and fear.
- Perhaps only Chandos boss Brian Couzens would grasp an opportunity like that.
- It would be naive to believe that there aren't lots of people who would leap at the opportunity.
- Some may leap at the chance.
- It would be unforgivable to miss this opportunity to travel.
- He didn't miss an opportunity.
- He must not miss a chance when it comes through being preoccupied with something else.
- History was being catalogued here, the missed opportunities, blunders, and outright mistakes.
- However, though I had missed a chance, the advantages were now all on my side and distinctly in my favour.
- It was a missed opportunity that they might never regain.
- Now, as many times before, the City is missing a chance to put the system right.
- The missed opportunities and hidden costs for Zappo were enormous.
- The snakes are sometimes hard to find, so the Webers never miss a chance to make a kill.
a rare opportunity to see inside this historic building I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you all.opportunity for Games and songs provide an opportunity for classroom interaction.2[countable] a chance to get a job or improve your situation at work: There are fewer opportunities for new graduates this year. → equal opportunities at equal1(2)COLLOCATIONSverbshave opportunity· I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to travel.take/use opportunity (=do something you have a chance to do)· Several employees took the opportunity to retire early.seize/grasp an opportunity (=do something very eagerly when you have the chance)· She saw an opportunity to speak to him, and seized it.miss/lose an opportunity (=not do something you have a chance to do)· Dwyer never missed an opportunity to criticize her.give somebody opportunity· The children should be given the opportunity to make their own choices.get an opportunity· I decided to go, as I might never get this opportunity again.provide/present/open up an opportunity· The course also provides an opportunity to study Japanese.an opportunity comes (along/up)· We had outgrown our house when the opportunity came up to buy one with more land.an opportunity arises· Perhaps she would explain later, if the opportunity arose.adjectivesa good/great/wonderful etc opportunity· It's a great opportunity to try new things.the ideal/perfect opportunity· I'd been wanting to try sailing, and this seemed like the ideal opportunity.a golden opportunity (=a very good opportunity)· The council has missed a golden opportunity to improve the town centre.a rare/unique opportunity· a unique opportunity to stay in a real castlea once-in-a-lifetime opportunity (=a very good opportunity that you will only get once)· For many athletes, the Olympics are a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.a wasted/lost/missed opportunity (=one you do not use)· Many people see the failed talks as a missed opportunity for peace.ample opportunity/plenty of opportunity (=a number of chances to do something)· There will be ample opportunity for shopping.limited/little opportunity (=not many chances)· They had little opportunity to discuss the issue beforehand.nounsa photo opportunity (=a chance to take a good photograph, especially of a particular person)· Parents will always look for good photo opportunities at their kid's graduation ceremony.phrasesat the first/earliest opportunity (=as soon as possible)· He decided to leave school at the earliest opportunity.at every (possible) opportunity (=whenever possible)· She went to the museum at every opportunity.a window of opportunity (=a time when you can do something)· The other team started making mistakes, but we didn't take advantage of this window of opportunity.a land of opportunity (=a country where people have a lot of good opportunities)· America was then seen as a land of opportunity.the opportunity of a lifetime (=a very good opportunity that you will only get once)· The winner of the contest got the opportunity of a lifetime – the chance to work with a top fashion designer.