What does “circumstances” mean?
- 1
nounthe facts or conditions that affect a situation or event
Under the circumstances, we had no choice but to cancel.
- 2
nouna person’s situation, especially how much money they have
Her family lived in difficult financial circumstances.
Circumstances at a glance
- Part of speech
- noun
- CEFR level
- B2 (upper intermediate)
- Pronunciation
- /ˈsɝkəmˌstænsɪz/ · SUR-kum-stan-siz
- Forms
- circumstance
How to use “circumstances” correctly
Use “under” or “in” the circumstances, not “on”. “Under no circumstances” at the start of a sentence inverts the verb: “Under no circumstances should you…”.
Common phrases with “circumstances”
- under the circumstances
- in no circumstances
- due to circumstances beyond our control
- extenuating circumstances
Synonyms, opposites and related words
Synonyms (similar meaning)
- conditions
- situation
- context
Word family
- circumstantial
“circumstances” is on these word lists
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