What does opportune mean?
Word: Opportune
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Opportune means happening at just the right moment, and well suited to what is needed.
Synonyms: well timed
How do you spell opportune?
Syllables: op - por - tune
Tricky part: The p is doubled near the start, though the ear catches only one.
Watch out for: oportune, opportoon, opportun
Memory tip: Perfect place, perfect pace: an opportune moment gets two things right, so the word gets two p's.
Opportune in a sentence
Example 1: The bell rang at an opportune moment, just as the quiz got too hard.
Example 2: Lunch seemed an opportune time to bring up the school trip with Papa.
Example 3: With everyone gathered, Mira saw an opportune chance to share her idea.
Fun Fact
The Latin word behind it first described a wind blowing a ship towards the harbour, which is exactly what a sailor hopes for at the right moment.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell-o-Spell
Three words in the list are spelt correctly and one is misspelt. Choose the meaning of the misspelt word.
1. oppertune 2. reluctant 3. punctual 4. tedious
a) falling at a lucky time
b) arriving exactly on time
c) unwilling to do something
d) long, dull and tiring
Show answer
a) falling at a lucky time. The second syllable has the vowel of port, not of person.
Word Makeup
Only one of these words takes the prefix in without any change. Choose it:
in
a) possible
b) legal
c) regular
d) opportune
Show answer
d) opportune. Only this word keeps the prefix unchanged; the others need il, im and ir.
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word opportune as used in the sentence:
The rain came at an opportune time for the rice farmers of Thanjavur.
a) convenient
b) untimely
c) suitable
d) favourable
Show answer
b) untimely. Three choices would suit the farmers; only one describes rain that comes when nobody wants it.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the word in the sentence and choose it:
The coach's phone call came at the most nreuptoop point in our team meeting.
a) oppressive
b) important
c) appropriate
d) opportune
Show answer
d) opportune. Count the p's and o's: there are two of each, and the a, s and i that the other choices need are absent.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. When would it be opportune to ask your teacher for extra help?
a) when she is speaking to the principal
b) when she is free after the lesson
c) when she is rushing to a meeting
d) when she is halfway through a test
Show answer
b) when she is free after the lesson
2. The sentence 'Help arrived at an opportune moment' tells us that the help was
a) useful because of when it came
b) useless because it was too small
c) useless because it came too late
d) useful because of who sent it
Show answer
a) useful because of when it came
