opera
- 1A play where the story is sung with music, or the written music for it.
Like a movie where everyone sings their lines instead of saying them.
They watched a new opera about a king who loses his crown.
We saw an opera in Italian, with the words shown above the stage.
UsageSay an opera by Verdi, and go to the opera to see one.
- 2The type of stage performance where stories are told through singing and music.
Like calling all painting 'art': opera is the whole tradition, not just one show.
She fell in love with opera after hearing one live performance.
He studies opera at a famous music school.
UsageNo a for the art: she loves opera.
Note
- 3A large theater built especially for staging musical shows with singers.
Like a stadium built for sports: but this one is built for singing.
Our hotel in Vienna was a short walk from the opera.
Tourists stood in front of the opera to admire its golden roof.
UsageFor the building, opera house is clearer.
Note
- 4A showy, overdramatic event that feels as wild and exaggerated as a stage opera.
Like calling a big, dramatic fuss 'a circus': here it's 'an opera' instead.
The argument became a real opera, full of shouting and tears.
Their breakup was a real opera, with shouting, tears, and slammed doors.
- 5A group of singers and musicians who work together to perform operas.
Like a sports team, but the players are singers and musicians.
The city opera hired three new singers this year.
She joined the opera as a young soprano.
Practice
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Origin
Borrowed from Italian "opera".
Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 1 fact
- English opera was borrowed from Italian opera. en.wikipedia.org