circumstance

Pronunciation

• (UK) (NZ) IPA ^(key): /ˈsɜːkəmst(ə)ns/ or /-ɑːns/ or /-æns/
• (US) IPA ^(key): /ˈsɝ.kəm.ˌstæns/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Hyphenation: cir‧cum‧stance

Noun

Singular circumstance

Plural circumstances

1. (countable); (usually plural) The circumstances surrounding an action or event includes all the information that helps you understand the action or event.

   Though war is a terrible thing, it is necessary under certain circumstances.

   Given the circumstances, I think we need to be flexible.

2. (uncountable) Circumstance is the events that affect you but that you cannot control.

   We hadn't planned it, but we ended up together by circumstance.

Synonyms

• situation
• context