circumstance

[sur-kuhm-stans, -stuhns] / ˈsɜr kəmˌstæns, -stəns /

NOUN

situation, condition

Synonyms

STRONGEST

accident action case cause coincidence crisis detail event fact factor fate incident matter occurrence status thing time

STRONG

adjunct affair article concern contingency destiny doom element episode exigency feature fortuity go happening happenstance intervention item juncture kismet lot occasion particular phase place point portion proviso respect scene stipulation supervention

WEAK

Moira where it's at

Antonyms

STRONGEST

plan

STRONG

whole

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“But history has a habit of sometimes being cruel, and it has conspired to put him in a circumstance where he has to make a difficult decision.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 27, 2026

As long as the value isn’t further destroyed through other problematic acquisitions, our investment should do well under almost any circumstance.

From Barron's • Apr. 16, 2026

And since losses from some of those shorts could be unlimited, the covering of those positions could trigger a stampede of buying, a circumstance known on Wall Street as a short squeeze.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 6, 2026

Jo Boydell, CEO of Travelodge, said: "I apologise to all of those people that have had a frightening circumstance."

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

I didn’t have many friends but whether this was due to choice or circumstance I do not now know.

From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt

Vocabulary lists containing circumstance

List 8

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Around and Around: Circum

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Excerpt from "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer"

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