Opposite or in front of?

Opposite as a preposition means ‘in a position facing someone or something but on the other side’:

• Jake sat opposite Claire in the restaurant. (Jake and Claire are facing each other on different sides of the table.)
• Not: Jake sat in front of Claire …

In front of as a preposition means ‘close to the front of something or someone’:

• There was a woman in front of me in the bus queue who was crying. (I was standing behind the woman.)

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We parked opposite the hotel.

We parked in front of the hotel.