inopportune

/ɪnˈɒpətjuːn/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪnˌɑːpərˈtuːn/ (ame, ipa) · /(ˌ)in-ˌä-pər-ˈtün -ˈtyün/ (ame, mw)

inopportune — adjective

  • inopportunepositive
  • more inopportunecomparative
  • most inopportunesuperlative

1. arriving or occurring at a moment that creates difficulty or embarrassment becau

1.形容詞C1
釋義

arriving or occurring at a moment that creates difficulty or embarrassment because something else important is going on

例句

Linh's uncle arrived at an inopportune moment, just as she was admitting her exam failure to her parents.

at an inopportune moment + simultaneous awkward scene

The fire alarm rang at the most inopportune time, halfway through Gabriel's wedding speech.

at the most inopportune time + interrupted event

同義詞
  • ill-timed

    near-synonym, slightly less formal; same idea of bad timing

  • untimely

    stronger negative connotation; often used of deaths or harmful events

  • awkward

    wider scope — covers timing AND social discomfort; less formal

  • unseasonable

    literary; mostly about weather or out-of-season events

反義詞
  • opportune

    exact opposite — at a moment that happens to suit you well

  • well-timed

    everyday register; deliberate good timing

  • convenient

    broader — covers timing and ease of arrangement

文法句型

an inopportune [moment / time / arrival]

at an inopportune moment

用法筆記

Frequently appears in the fixed phrase 'at an (the most) inopportune moment / time'. Subject is usually an event, arrival, or request — not a person.

常見錯誤

❌Renata is a very inopportune person.
✅Renata called at a very inopportune moment.
💡'inopportune' describes a time or event, not a person's character.
❌The news was inopportune to me.
✅The news came at an inopportune time for me.
💡pair with 'time/moment' rather than using it directly of an item of news.