circumstance

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A fact or condition that is connected to an event or situation and affects it or gives it context.

   Grammar: Often used in the plural: The circumstances were difficult. It can also be singular: a strange circumstance.

   Patterns

   • in/under the circumstances
   • under no circumstances
   • a set of circumstances
   • due to circumstances beyond someone's control

   Under no circumstances should you lend him money.

   The police are investigating the circumstances of her death.

   Given the circumstances, we decided to postpone the wedding.

2. 2nounplural

   The way things are at a particular time; the situation or conditions affecting someone.

   Grammar: Used in the plural to mean the general situation: circumstances have changed.

   Patterns

   • circumstances change
   • in difficult circumstances
   • financial circumstances
   • living circumstances

   Her financial circumstances improved after she found a new job.

   People are living in terrible circumstances in the refugee camp.

   We must adapt to changing circumstances.

3. 3nouncountable

   A fact or event that makes a situation more complicated or that is not important enough to change it.

   Grammar: Often used in phrases like 'a mere circumstance' or 'a minor circumstance'.

   Patterns

   • a mere circumstance
   • a minor circumstance

   The delay was a mere circumstance and did not affect the final result.

   He dismissed the error as a minor circumstance.

Word forms

Common combinations

under the circumstances

Under the circumstances, we had no choice but to cancel.

under no circumstances

Under no circumstances should you open the door to strangers.

a set of circumstances

A strange set of circumstances led to their meeting.

due to circumstances beyond our control

The concert was canceled due to circumstances beyond our control.

in the circumstances

In the circumstances, I think she did the right thing.

Synonyms and how they differ

situation

Situation is more general and often refers to the state of affairs at a particular time, while circumstance often refers to a specific fact or condition that affects a situation.

condition

Condition often refers to the state of something (e.g., a person's health or a building's state), while circumstance refers to a fact or event that influences a situation.

factor

Factor is a fact or situation that influences a result; circumstance is broader and can refer to any connected fact or condition.

Word family

circumstantial adjective

Relating to circumstances; often used in legal contexts (circumstantial evidence).

circumstances noun

Plural form, often meaning the conditions of someone's life.

Commonly confused: circumstance or circumstantial?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “circumstance”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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