opportune

C2+ Topic:Abstract Ideas

US /ˌɑpərˈtun/ UK /ˈɒpətjuːn/ See IPA manual

adj

Meanings

1

adj
well-chosen or timely; suitable for a particular purpose

She waited for an opportune moment to raise the delicate subject.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · well-chosen or timely;... timely favorable propitious auspicious apt suitable convenient felicitous

Opposites

inopportune untimely unfavorable inconvenientill-timed

Word family

Forms opportunely

Derived forms opportunelyopportuneness opportunityopportunism

Related forms opportunity opportunist importune

Etymology

From Old French 'opportun', from Latin 'opportunus' ('fit, suitable'), originally a nautical term meaning '(of wind) driving toward the harbor', from 'ob-' ('toward') plus 'portus' ('harbor').

opportunus Latin portus Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Abstract Ideas

# opportune

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** ˌɑpərˈtun
**IPA (UK):** ˈɒpətjuːn

## Meanings
1. well-chosen or timely; suitable for a particular purpose

## Examples
- She waited for an opportune moment to raise the delicate subject.

## Synonyms
- timely
- favorable
- propitious
- auspicious
- apt
- suitable
- convenient
- felicitous

## Antonyms
- inopportune
- untimely
- unfavorable
- inconvenient
- ill-timed

## Derived Forms
- opportunely
- opportuneness
- opportunity
- opportunism

## Related Forms
- opportunity
- opportunist
- importune

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: opportunus
- Root: portus

## Etymology
From Old French 'opportun', from Latin 'opportunus' ('fit, suitable'), originally a nautical term meaning '(of wind) driving toward the harbor', from 'ob-' ('toward') plus 'portus' ('harbor').

## AI Etymology
Opportune comes from Old French 'opportun', from Latin 'opportunus' ('fit, suitable'), originally a nautical term meaning '(of wind) driving toward the harbor', from 'ob-' ('toward') plus 'portus' ('harbor'). The form is best read as a historical transfer or inheritance, with its older language material carrying the main semantic load. As an adjective, it carries the sense "well-chosen or timely; suitable for a particular purpose", with the older formation still helping explain the modern use. Relevant historical forms include Latin opportunus and Latin portus. Derivative forms include opportunely, opportuneness, opportunity, opportunism; related words include opportunity, opportunist, importune.

## Topics
- Abstract Ideas

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opportune

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