opera

1 of 2

plural of opus

opera

2 of 2

noun

op·​era ˈä-p(ə-)rə How to pronounce opera (audio)
 Southern also  ˈä-prē
1
: a drama set to music and made up of vocal pieces with orchestral accompaniment and orchestral overtures (see overture entry 1 sense 2) and interludes (see interlude sense 2)
specifically : grand opera
Beethoven composed only one opera.
2
: the score (see score entry 1 sense 6) of a musical drama
The composer finished the opera in just six weeks.
3
: the performance of an opera
The opera was delayed a half hour due to technical difficulties.
also : a house where operas are performed
We'll meet you at the opera at 7 p.m.

Examples of opera in a Sentence

Noun I am going to an opera tonight.
Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
Flashback: New Orleans is known as the birthplace of jazz, but the city was once a major opera town, too. Chelsea Brasted, Axios, 24 Jan. 2025 The outlier is Emilia Pérez, which Audiard adapted from his opera libretto and Boris Razon’s novel Écoute; The Wild Robot got the Scripter nom. Patrick Hipes, Deadline, 23 Jan. 2025 Then there’s an opera coat/coach’s jacket with a 1950s-style pod shape on the back and a cropped shearling jacket with a hood and quilted interior. Jean E. Palmieri, WWD, 22 Jan. 2025 Book tickets in advance for a performance at the Spanish Riding School or perhaps catch an opera at the iconic Staatsoper. Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 22 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for opera 

Word History

Etymology

Noun

borrowed from Italian, "work, labor, artistic production, drama set to music (originally short for opera musicale, opera in musica)," going back to Latin, "activity, effort, attention, work," collective derivative from oper-, opus "work, effort, product of labor" — more at opus

First Known Use

Noun

1848, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of opera was in 1848

Dictionary Entries Near opera

Cite this Entry

“Opera.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/opera. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

opera

1 of 2

plural of opus

opera

2 of 2 noun
op·​era ˈäp-(ə-)rə How to pronounce opera (audio)
1
: a play in which usually the entire text is sung with orchestral accompaniment
2
: the performance of an opera
operatic
ˌäp-ə-ˈrat-ik
adjective
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