Definitions

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.

So we have to be ready for that circumstance.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 9, 2026

A win for the ages, simply because of the circumstance in which it was constructed.

From BBC • Jul. 6, 2026

The Strait of Hormuz was completely open then, so this is a very different circumstance.

From Barron's • Jun. 25, 2026

Haney painted the prosecution’s case as heavy on circumstance but light on substance.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 24, 2026

Though Greek gave him so much trouble, he’d actually studied it far longer than any of the rest of us, since he was twelve, a circumstance about which he perpetually boasted.

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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