Meaning & use
seize this opportunity
Last updated
Meaning
phrasefixed phrase
to act quickly to use the particular chance that is available now.
Grammar: The phrase contains the demonstrative this, so it points to one chance already known to the listener.
Patterns
- seize this opportunity to do something
- seize this opportunity for something
- urge someone to seize this opportunity
The deadline is Friday, so I urge you to seize this opportunity to apply.
We should seize this opportunity to cut costs while prices are low.
Seize this opportunity — it may not come again.
Common combinations
- seize this opportunity to do something
- Students should seize this opportunity to ask questions.
- a golden opportunity
- The new market is a golden opportunity for small firms.
- seize the chance
- He seized the chance to work with a famous director.
Synonyms and how they differ
- take this chance
- Very close in meaning but slightly less formal and less forceful than seize this opportunity.
- make the most of
- Focuses on using something well over time, not on acting fast at the moment it appears.
Opposites
Word family
- seizure noun
- the act of taking something by force, or a sudden medical attack.
- opportunistic adjective
- acting to gain an advantage from events, often without moral concern.
Commonly confused: seize this opportunity or seize on?
seize this opportunity vs seize on
Seize on means to suddenly show great interest in an idea or remark, as in critics seized on his mistake. It is not used for chances in this way.
Practice
The training is free for employees, so I really think you should ______.
Choose one answer.
"Seize this opportunity" is the correct phrase. "Seize up" means to stop working, and "seize on" is used with ideas or remarks, not with a chance like this.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “seize this opportunity”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.