Word of the Day
: May 31, 2025opportune
playWhat It Means
Opportune describes something that is suitable or convenient for a particular situation, or that is done or happening at an appropriate time.
// They chose an opportune time to invest in real estate.
// She is waiting for an opportune moment to ask for a raise.
opportune in Context
“It [the Mystic Seaport Museum in Connecticut] was constructed on the site of an 1830s shipyard built by three mariner brothers, George, Clark, and Thomas Greenman. They, like other entrepreneurs in the booming seafaring community of Mystic, took over low-lying and marshy lands whose gently sloping banks and proximity to the Atlantic Ocean were opportune for shipbuilding.” — Annabel Keenan, The New York Times, 22 Apr. 2025
Did You Know?
If you’ve never had the opportunity to learn the history behind opportune, now’s your chance. Both opportune and opportunity come from Latin opportūnus, which can mean “favoring one’s needs,” “serviceable,” or “convenient.” Opportūnus itself, constructed from the prefix ob-, meaning “to,” portu- (stem of the noun portus, meaning “port” or “harbor”), and the adjective suffix -nus, suggests the value of any port available when a storm is brewing or raging. Portus has dropped anchor in other English words as well, including portal, passport, and of course port. Its footprint is also scattered across our maps in coastal place names, from Newport to Puerto Rico to Porto Alegre.
Test Your Vocabulary with M-W Quizzes
Quiz
Fill in the blanks to complete an adjective meaning “tending to favor or assist”: p _ o p _ t _ _ _s.
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More Words of the Day
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May 30
gust
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May 29
nascent
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May 28
fiasco
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May 27
interminable
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May 26
commemorate
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May 25
dyspeptic
