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opine

verb
\ ō-ˈpīn How to pronounce opine (audio) \
opined; opining

Definition of opine

intransitive verb

: to express opinions You may opine about anything you want.

transitive verb

: to state as an opinion opined that the nominee was not fit to serve on the Supreme Court
Synonyms Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about opine

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Did You Know?

Opine has been around since the 15th century, and while it certainly is not a rare word today, not everyone is inclined to take it seriously. Commentators have described it as a stilted word, appropriate only in facetious use - and it does have an undeniable tendency to turn up in humorous writing. Recent evidence, however, suggests that it is being used in perfectly respectable contexts more often. It typically serves to emphasize that the opinion being reported is just that - an opinion. The etymology of opine is perfectly respectable, too. The term derives from the Middle French opiner ("to express one's opinion") and the Latin opinari, meaning "to have an opinion or "to think."

Examples of opine in a Sentence

Many people opine that the content of Web pages should be better regulated. You can opine about any subject you like.

Recent Examples on the Web

 However, the rifle association says there is still a live controversy and is eager for the high court to opine on the matter. — Ephrat Livni, Quartz, "A gun law case before the US Supreme Court has Americans up in arms," 17 Aug. 2019 In her remarks Ms Lam departed from the usual convention of opining on the progress of the city under Chinese rule, promising instead that her government would listen to the demands of the people and be more open. — The Economist, "Hong Kong protesters storm the legislative council," 30 June 2019 In the latest installment of our new video series, The Future of Money, CEOs, tech executives, and bankers opine on the possible, eventual end of the U.S.’s record-breaking market boom-times. — Robert Hackett, Fortune, "China Crosses the Renminbi-con—The Ledger," 5 Aug. 2019 Drawing on his strong knowledge of Kentucky politics and the workings of government, Bailey will present readers with smart analysis, while avoiding the partisan opining reserved for the Opinion page. — Rob Byers, The Courier-Journal, "As Kentucky elections approach, Courier Journal is launching a political analysis column," 24 July 2019 Some did come to her defense, opining that 21 Savage should not have dissed her day job. — Stephanie Toone, ajc, "21 Savage had a quick comeback for a fan disputing his Atlanta roots," 12 June 2019 Barr himself has opined on the matter of prosecutors contributing to political campaigns. — David Yanofsky, Quartz, "William Barr’s donations to Senate Republicans spiked just before they confirmed him as attorney general," 18 July 2019 Though not nearly as vocal or aggressive as Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D.-Mass.) on breaking up big tech companies and are considered softer on antitrust regulations, both Biden and Harris have opined that the issue warrants serious consideration. — Lucinda Shen, Fortune, "Term Sheet -- Friday June 28," 28 June 2019 The racial undertones were difficult to miss: The imagery of black players attacking white fans served as a kind of racial pornography that had many openly opining about the NBA’s ruin. — Jemele Hill, The Atlantic, "The Turbulent Journey of Metta World Peace," 5 June 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'opine.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of opine

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

History and Etymology for opine

Middle English, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French opiner, from Latin opinari to have an opinion

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More Definitions for opine

opine

verb
How to pronounce opine (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of opine

formal : to express an opinion about something

See the full definition for opine in the English Language Learners Dictionary

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More from Merriam-Webster on opine

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with opine

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for opine

Spanish Central: Translation of opine

Britannica English: Translation of opine for Arabic Speakers

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