circumstance

B2 Topic:Abstract Ideas

US /ˈsɝ.kəmˌstæns/ UK /ˈsɜːkəmst(ə)ns/ See IPA manual

Freq #11540

Meanings

1

noun
A fact or condition that affects a situation or event.

Under the circumstances, we decided to cancel the trip.
2

noun
The conditions of a person's life, especially their money and surroundings.

She was born into comfortable circumstances.
3

noun
Formal ceremony surrounding an important occasion.

The graduation was full of pomp and circumstance.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a fact or condition that... condition

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

extraordinary circumstance
an unusual situation that falls outside what would normally be expected

Adjective + noun

Proverbs (1)

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Circumstances alter cases

Etymology

From Middle English circumstaunce, from Old French circonstance, from Latin circumstantia.

circumstaunce Middle English circonstance Old French circumstantia Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Abstract Ideas Register & Style

External links

# circumstance

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈsɝ.kəmˌstæns/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈsɜːkəmst(ə)ns/
**Frequency rank:** 11540

## Meanings
1. A fact or condition that affects a situation or event.
2. The conditions of a person's life, especially their money and surroundings.
3. Formal ceremony surrounding an important occasion.

## Examples
- Under the circumstances, we decided to cancel the trip.
- She was born into comfortable circumstances.
- The graduation was full of pomp and circumstance.

## Synonyms
- position
- posture

## Related Forms
- circumspection
- circumstantial
- coinstantial

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: circumstaunce
- Root: circonstance
- Root: circumstantia
- Affix: circum- - around

## Etymology
From Middle English circumstaunce, from Old French circonstance, from Latin circumstantia.

## AI Etymology
circumstance is a noun and verb. It is from Middle English circumstaunce, from Old French circonstance, from Latin circumstantia. Historical forms in the chain include circumstaunce (Middle English), circonstance (Old French), and circumstantia (Latin). Current senses include a fact or condition that affects a situation or event, the conditions of a person's life, especially their money and surroundings, and formal ceremony surrounding an important occasion. Related words include circumspection, circumstantial, and coinstantial.

## Topics
- Abstract Ideas
- Register & Style

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