Meaning & use
seized opportunity
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Meanings
phraseidiom
Took a chance to do something useful as soon as it appeared.
Grammar: Used as a past-tense verb phrase; the object comes after it: seized the opportunity to leave.
Patterns
- seized the opportunity to do something
- seized an opportunity
- seized the opportunity for something
- seized every opportunity
When the company offered him a transfer to Lisbon, he seized the opportunity and moved within a month.
The team seized the opportunity to test the new system while the office was closed.
She seized the opportunity for a short holiday between two projects.
phraseidiom
Acted quickly to gain an advantage that might soon disappear.
Grammar: Often followed by while or when to show the moment: seized the opportunity while prices were low.
Patterns
- seized the opportunity while something lasted
- seized the opportunity when something happened
Investors seized the opportunity while interest rates were still low.
He seized the opportunity when his rival withdrew from the race.
Common combinations
- seize the opportunity to do something
- She seized the opportunity to study abroad for a year.
- seize an opportunity
- Good managers seize an opportunity before competitors notice it.
- seize the chance
- They seized the chance to buy the shop at a low price.
- seize the moment
- The speech was going well, so he seized the moment and asked for more funding.
- a missed opportunity
- Not applying for the scholarship was a missed opportunity.
- seize the day
- After his accident he decided to seize the day and travel more.
Synonyms and how they differ
- grabbed the chance
- More informal and slightly more forceful; fine in speech but less suitable in a report.
- took advantage of
- Focuses on using a situation for your own benefit, which can sound more calculating than simply seizing an opportunity.
- jumped at
- Suggests eagerness and little hesitation, often before an offer: jumped at the offer.
Opposites
Word family
- seize verb
- To take hold of something quickly or take control by force.
- seizure noun
- The act of taking control, often by force or law; also a sudden medical attack.
- opportunity noun
- A situation that makes it possible to do something you want.
- opportunistic adjective
- Using any situation for personal gain, often without planning or principle.
Commonly confused: seized opportunity or ceased? seized opportunity or sees?
seized opportunity vs ceased
Sounds almost the same as seized but means 'stopped'. A common typing error: 'ceased the opportunity' is wrong.
seized opportunity vs sees
A present-tense form of see; 'he sees an opportunity' describes noticing, not acting on it.
Practice
Which sentence uses the phrase correctly?
Choose one answer.
The phrase takes a to-infinitive after it: seized the opportunity to lead. Option 2 uses 'for' with a bare verb, option 3 drops 'the' and uses the wrong verb form, and option 4 adds 'was', which does not fit this active past-tense phrase.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “seized opportunity”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.