opportunity

opportunity /ˌɔpəˈtju:niti/ n. ［c］ & ［u］机会，良机 (= a good chance): equal opportunities 均等的机会；at/on the first opportunity 一有机会；afford/give an opportunity 给予机会；find (make) an opportunity to do sth. 找着(造成)做某事的机会；seize (miss) an opportunity 抓住(错过)机会：I take this opportunity of thanking you. 我借此机会来感谢你们。［考句］ Many new opportunities will be opened up in the future for those with a university education.受过高等教育的人将来会有很多新的机会。

［辨析］在表示幸运遇到的机会时，opportunity和chance同义，如：have a(n) chance/opportunity to do/of doing sth.(I had the chance/opportunity of visiting Paris.我有机会参观巴黎。) chance可表示可能性，如：There’s a chance that I will see him. 该句中的chance = possibility ≠ opportunity。occasion 表示“场合；时刻”，如：on the occasion of her wedding。该词在表示“时机，机会”时侧重原因，如：I had occasion/had no occasion to visit Paris.我有机会/没有机会访问巴黎。