Meaning & use
to seize an opportunity
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Meanings
phraseidiom
to take quick and eager advantage of a chance when it appears.
Grammar: Takes an object after 'seize': seize an opportunity. The phrase is often used with adverbs like 'quickly' or 'immediately'.
Patterns
- seize an opportunity
- seize the opportunity to do something
- seize an opportunity for something
When the company offered her training, she seized the opportunity.
He seized the opportunity to work abroad for a year.
Investors seized the opportunity to buy shares cheaply.
phraseidiom
to make full use of a favorable moment in order to gain an advantage.
Grammar: Often used about business, politics, or careers, and can suggest acting before others do.
Patterns
- seize the opportunity
- seize a chance
The team seized the opportunity and won the match.
If you don't seize the opportunity now, someone else will.
Common combinations
- seize the opportunity to do something
- She seized the opportunity to study in Japan.
- seize an opportunity eagerly
- The young actor seized the opportunity eagerly.
- a golden opportunity
- The scholarship was a golden opportunity for him.
- miss an opportunity
- He missed the opportunity to say sorry.
- take advantage of an opportunity
- They took advantage of the opportunity to expand.
Synonyms and how they differ
- take advantage of
- Similar meaning, but it can also suggest using someone unfairly, so 'seize an opportunity' sounds more positive.
- jump at
- Informal and shows strong eagerness; 'seize' is more formal and suggests quick, decisive action.
- grasp
- Very close and slightly literary; 'grasp an opportunity' is fine but less common than 'seize'.
Opposites
Word family
- seizure noun
- the act of taking something by force, or a sudden medical attack.
- seizable adjective
- able to be taken or captured, especially by law.
Commonly confused: to seize an opportunity or seize the day?
to seize an opportunity vs seize the day
An idiom meaning enjoy the present moment, not the same as taking a specific chance. 'Seize an opportunity' needs a real chance or offer.
Practice
Choose the sentence that uses the phrase correctly.
Choose one answer.
'Opportunity for' plus a noun works: an opportunity for the interview. 'For apply' is ungrammatical, 'to applying' should be 'to apply', and 'opportunity of' does not fit this meaning.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “to seize an opportunity”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.