circumstance
[noun]
Synonyms: event, accident, condition, contingency, happening, incident, occurrence, particular, respect, situation

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Related Words: detail, item, particular, component, constituent, element, factor

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

cir‧cum‧stance S2 W1 AC /ˈsɜːkəmstæns, -stəns $ ˈsɜːr-/ noun
[Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old French; Origin: Latin circumstantia, from circumstare 'to stand around', from circum- (CIRCUM-) + stare 'to stand']

1. [countable usually plural] the conditions that affect a situation, action, event etc:
The Soviet Union had been forced by circumstances to sign a pact with Nazi Germany.
I can’t imagine a circumstance in which I would be willing to steal.
in ... circumstances
The rules can only be waived in exceptional circumstances.
under ... circumstances
Prisoners can only leave their cells under certain circumstances.

2. under no circumstances (also in no circumstances British English) used to emphasize that something must definitely not happen:
Under no circumstances are you to go out.

3. under/given the circumstances (also in the circumstances British English) used to say that a particular situation makes an action, decision etc necessary, acceptable, or true when it would not normally be:
It’s the best result that could be expected under the circumstances.

4. [uncountable] formal the combination of facts, events etc that influence your life, and that you cannot control:
He was a victim of circumstance.

5. circumstances [plural] formal the conditions in which you live, especially how much money you have
economic/financial/personal etc circumstances
Whether or not you qualify for a loan will depend on your financial circumstances.
people living in difficult social circumstances
in reduced circumstances old-fashioned (=with much less money than you used to have)
⇒ pomp and circumstance at pomp

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

circumstance
noun
I. (usually circumstances) facts/events that affect sth
ADJ. favourable The scheme might work better with more favourable circumstances.
adverse, difficult, tragic, trying, unfavourable people facing adverse circumstances He died in tragic circumstances.
normal In normal circumstances I would let you use my car, but today I need it.
exceptional, special, unusual Only if the circumstances are exceptional will we accept late applications.
mysterious, suspicious She died in rather suspicious circumstances.
extenuating, mitigating His sentence was reduced because of the extenuating circumstances.
changed, changing, different | unavoidable, unforeseen | economic, financial, political, social life in the changing economic circumstances of China
QUANT. set an unfortunate set of circumstances that made her life difficult
CIRCUMSTANCE + VERB change | conspire, dictate sth I felt that circumstances were conspiring against me. Circumstances dictate that I should leave this town forever.
PREP. according to ~ The amount paid will vary according to circumstances.
due to … ~s Due to unforeseen circumstances, we have had to reschedule the concert.
in … ~s She died in suspicious circumstances.
in/under the ~s In the circumstances, you'd better ring the police.
~ surrounding The bank will investigate the circumstances surrounding the robbery.
PHRASES by/through force of circumstance The survivors ate plants and insects through force of circumstance.
circumstances beyond our control The delays were due to circumstances beyond our control.
a combination of circumstances We lost our position in the market due to a combination of circumstances.
in/under no circumstances Under no circumstances should you leave the door unlocked.
a victim of circumstance He was simply a victim of circumstance.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

circumstance
II. circumstances: amount of money you have
ADJ. desperate, reduced, straitened | domestic, family, personal
CIRCUMSTANCE + VERB improve | worsen
PREP. in … ~ He was a writer living in straitened circumstances.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

circumstance

in/under certain circumstances (=if particular conditions exist)
In certain circumstances you may be refused a visa.
exceptional/special circumstances
The court may allow this evidence in exceptional circumstances.
normal circumstances
In normal circumstances, a child’s language will develop naturally.
particular circumstances (=special or specific)
There may be particular circumstances in which this rule will not apply.
difficult circumstances
Many teachers are doing a very good job under difficult circumstances.
suspicious circumstances (=making you think something illegal has happened)
Officers said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.
mysterious circumstances (=strange or suspicious)
One of their colleagues had vanished in mysterious circumstances.
unusual circumstances
There were several unusual circumstances that night.
unforeseen circumstances (=that you did not realize would happen)
The tragedy was the result of a series of unforeseen circumstances.
tragic circumstances (=extremely sad and unfortunate)
Both parents had died in tragic circumstances.
extenuating/mitigating circumstances (=conditions that make it reasonable for someone to break the rules or law)
Hunger and poverty are not treated by the courts as extenuating circumstances.
a set/combination of circumstances
This was a very unusual set of circumstances.
the circumstances surrounding something
Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the accident.
due to circumstances beyond sb’s control
Occasionally flights are cancelled due to circumstances beyond our control.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

circumstance
noun
BAD: I believe that in this circumstance students should be allowed to

Usage Note:
have a part-time job.
GOOD: I believe that in these circumstances students should be allowed to have a part-time job.
Circumstances is nearly always used as a plural noun (WITH s ): 'The police are investigating the circumstances surrounding his death.' 'Under normal circumstances, I would never have left my passport with a stranger.'

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Common Errors ▲

circumstance
ˈsə:kəmstəns
See: under the circumstances also in the circumstances

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲