adjective
opportune
o-puh-CHOON
Opportune (adjective) means Well-timed or well-suited for a particular purpose. Example: “It was an opportune moment to bring up the raise.”
adjective
1
Well-timed or well-suited for a particular purpose.
"It was an opportune moment to bring up the raise."
"I staggered to an opportune wall and continued to wail from the deepest, hurtingest, sweetest little abandoned place I could imagine. Finally, I dragged my weary body to my seat and finished my conversation with God."
— Michael Weinberger, A Message from Jakie (2005)
"This would be an opportune spot for a picnic."
How to use opportune
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishHappening at just the right time to be useful or advantageous.
Common mistake
Don't confuse "opportune" (well-timed) with "important" (significant) — they aren't interchangeable even though both sound formal.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
opportune moment
opportune time
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more opportune
- Superlative
- most opportune
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
It was an _____ moment to bring up the raise.
Etymology
From Old French opportun, from Latin opportunus, literally "coming toward the harbor" — suggesting something arriving at just the right time.
Synonyms
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proper
timesome
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for opportune
See all rhymes for opportune →Frequently asked questions
What does “opportune” mean?
The word “opportune” means well-timed or well-suited for a particular purpose. In plain terms, happening at just the right time to be useful or advantageous.
How do you pronounce “opportune”?
“Opportune” is pronounced o-puh-CHOON (/ˌɑ.pɚˈt͡ʃuːn/ in IPA).
How do you use “opportune” in a sentence?
Here is “opportune” used in a sentence: “It was an opportune moment to bring up the raise.”
What is another word for “opportune”?
Words with a similar meaning to “opportune” include proper and timesome.
What is the opposite of “opportune”?
The opposite of “opportune” — its antonyms — are inappropriate, inopportune, improper, unseasonable and untime.
What part of speech is “opportune”?
“Opportune” is an adjective.
Where does the word “opportune” come from?
The word “opportune” comes from Latin. From Old French opportun, from Latin opportunus, literally "coming toward the harbor" — suggesting something arriving at just the right time.
