opportune
adjective
op·por·tune
ˌä-pər-ˈtün 
-ˈtyün
1
: suitable or convenient for a particular occurrence
an opportune moment
the legal authorities helped by the opportune use of their powers of arrest—
T. E. Vedney
T. E. Vedney2
: occurring at an appropriate time
an opportune offer of assistance
The book's publication is opportune.
opportunely
adverb
Did you know?
Opportune comes from Latin opportūnus, which can mean "favoring one's needs," "serviceable," or "convenient." The word is a combination of the prefix ob-, meaning "to," and portus, a word for a port or harbor. It alludes to choosing any port in a storm for safety.
Examples of opportune in a Sentence
There isn't a more opportune time to invest in the stock market.
an opportune rain shower gave them an excuse to leave the outdoor concert early
Recent Examples on the Web
And there is a secret weapon, Griffin, who rested a sore knee this weekend, but could be unleashed at an opportune time with the ability to defend on ball, cool off whatever offensive star might be lurking in the latter stages of March Madness.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 11 Mar. 2025
Ariane 6 has been exorbitantly costly and years late, but its first operational success comes at an opportune time for Europe.
—Stephen Clark, Ars Technica, 6 Mar. 2025
Now is an opportune time for women to enter these fields.
—Kim Elsesser, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2025
The restaurant opened at an opportune time, catching the Austin real-estate boom and feeding a hunger for regionally distinct dishes.
—Rachel Monroe, The New Yorker, 22 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for opportune
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 11 Mar. 2025
Ariane 6 has been exorbitantly costly and years late, but its first operational success comes at an opportune time for Europe.
—Stephen Clark, Ars Technica, 6 Mar. 2025
Now is an opportune time for women to enter these fields.
—Kim Elsesser, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2025
The restaurant opened at an opportune time, catching the Austin real-estate boom and feeding a hunger for regionally distinct dishes.
—Rachel Monroe, The New Yorker, 22 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for opportune
Articles Related to opportune
Cite this Entry
“Opportune.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/opportune. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
opportune
adjective
op·por·tune
ˌäp-ər-ˈt(y)ün
: suitable sense 1, timely
an opportune moment to act
opportunely
adverb
Etymology
Middle English opportune "opportune, suitable, fit," from early French opportun (same meaning), from Latin opportunus "fit, suitable, convenient," from ob- "toward" and portus "harbor"
Word Origin
The Latin adjective opportunus was used to mean "fit, suitable, or convenient." It was formed from the prefix ob-, meaning "toward," and portus, meaning "harbor." The original meaning was probably "blowing in the direction of a harbor (of a wind)," and hence "favoring one's needs, convenient." The French took the word as opportun with the same basic meaning, and the word came into English as opportune in the 15th century. Nowadays it is often applied to a suitable or favorable time for something, or to something that occurs or is done at just the right time.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share