opportunities

opportunities — noun

1. Times or situations when conditions make it possible for someone to do, achieve,

1.名詞B1
釋義

Times or situations when conditions make it possible for someone to do, achieve, or experience something they want or need.

例句

The summer programme gave Selim many opportunities to practise his Mandarin.

pattern: opportunities to + verb

Living in Berlin opened up unexpected opportunities for Adina to study old maps.

pattern: opportunities for + noun + to-infinitive

同義詞
  • chances

    More everyday and less formal; 'chances' can also suggest luck or probability, while 'opportunities' implies that conditions actively make something possible.

  • openings

    Often refers to a small or specific moment in time when action becomes possible; narrower than 'opportunities'.

  • possibilities

    Refers to things that might happen in general; 'opportunities' specifically points to situations someone can act on.

反義詞
  • obstacles

    Things that block progress, opposite of situations that enable action.

  • constraints

    Conditions that limit what one can do; the opposite of conditions that enable it.

文法句型

opportunities to + verb

opportunities for + noun

create / provide / offer opportunities

miss / seize / take opportunities

用法筆記

Almost always plural in this sense; the singular 'opportunity' carries the same meaning but is rare when speaking about a range or series of chances. Frequently the object of verbs of provision (provide, offer, create, give) and verbs of capture (take, seize, miss).

常見錯誤

❌I had many opportunity to travel.
✅I had many opportunities to travel.
💡With 'many' or other plural quantifiers, use the plural form.
❌There are good opportunities of learning here.
✅There are good opportunities for learning here.
💡Use 'for' before a noun or gerund, not 'of'.
❌She lost the opportunities to apply.
✅She missed the opportunity to apply.' / 'She missed her opportunities.
💡Use 'miss' for a chance that passes you by, not 'lose'.

2. Chances of being hired for paid work, especially within a particular field, comp

2.名詞B1
釋義

Chances of being hired for paid work, especially within a particular field, company, or location.

例句

After graduating, Obi looked for job opportunities in renewable energy.

collocation: job opportunities in + field

The new factory will bring hundreds of employment opportunities to the small coastal town.

collocation: employment opportunities

同義詞
  • openings

    Specifically refers to currently advertised vacant positions; narrower and more concrete than 'opportunities'.

  • positions

    Refers to specific job posts that exist; 'opportunities' includes potential roles that have not yet been formally advertised.

  • prospects

    Emphasises the longer-term career outlook rather than individual job openings.

反義詞

文法句型

job / employment / career opportunities

opportunities in + field

opportunities with + employer

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1 (FAVOURABLE CHANCES): this sense specifically refers to paid work and almost always appears with job-related modifiers ('job', 'employment', 'career') or in a clearly work-related context. Without such cues, readers default to sense 1.

常見錯誤

❌I am searching opportunities in marketing.
✅I am searching for opportunities in marketing.
💡The verb 'search' takes 'for'; only 'seek' or 'look for' can drop it.
❌There are many job opportunities to engineer.
✅There are many job opportunities for engineers.' / 'There are many opportunities to work as an engineer.
💡Use 'for + occupation noun' or 'to + verb', not 'to + occupation noun'.