Circumstances — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms
Meaning & Definition of Circumstances
Circumstances (noun)
- a condition, fact, or event accompanying, conditioning, or determining another, an essential or inevitable concomitant
- a subordinate or accessory fact or detail
- a piece of evidence that indicates the probability or improbability of an event (such as a crime)
Circumstances (phrase)
- things that have happened that someone cannot change or influence
- considering everything
- no matter what happens
- in some special cases
- normally, usually
- in this specific situation
Circumstances (plural noun)
- a situation in which a person has less money than formerly
Circumstances (adjective)
- tending to lessen the real or apparent seriousness of something (such as a crime, offense, or fault), providing a partial justification or excuse for something —usually used in the phrase extenuating circumstances
Circumstances (verb)
- to cause to become less harsh or hostile, mollify
- to make (something) less severe, painful, or intense, alleviate
- extenuate; specifically, to lessen or to try to lessen the extent of (a loss)
Circumstances (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms
-
a state or end that seemingly has been decided beforehand
"the condemned murderer seemed indifferent to his circumstance"
-
something that happens
"due to unexpected circumstances, the test will be postponed"
-
the uncertain course of events
"I was a victim of circumstance, for nothing that I could have done would have made a difference"
Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Circumstances
The most common words with a similar meaning to Circumstances:
Near Antonyms of Circumstances
Word Forms of Circumstances
Inflections: mitigated, mitigating
Derived words: mitigative (adjective), mitigator (noun), mitigatory (adjective)
Origin & Etymology of Circumstances
Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin circumstantia, from circumstant-, circumstans, present participle of circumstare to stand around, from circum- + stare to stand stand
First known use: 13th century
Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Circumstances
- Academic Word List: 570 Academic Word List — Page 2
- Topics: Advanced GRE / C2
Words & Phrases Containing Circumstances
Frequently Asked Questions about Circumstances
What does "Circumstances" mean?
"Circumstances" means a condition, fact, or event accompanying, conditioning, or determining another, an essential or inevitable concomitant. As an a noun, a phrase, a plural noun, an adjective and a verb, it is defined as: a condition, fact, or event accompanying, conditioning, or determining another, an essential or inevitable concomitant. It has 3 distinct senses.
What is another word for "Circumstances"?
Other words for "Circumstances" include destinies, dooms, fates, fortunes, kismets, lots, portions and affairs. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Circumstances" you intend.
What are different ways to say "Circumstances"?
There are 67 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Circumstances". Common alternatives include destinies, dooms, fates, fortunes, kismets, lots, portions, affairs, episodes and events.
How do you use "Circumstances" in a sentence?
Examples of "Circumstances" in a sentence: "the condemned murderer seemed indifferent to his circumstance"; "due to unexpected circumstances, the test will be postponed"; "I was a victim of circumstance, for nothing that I could have done would have made a difference".
Is "Circumstances" a noun, verb, or adjective?
"Circumstances" can be used as a noun, a phrase, a plural noun, an adjective and a verb, depending on the context.
Is "Circumstances" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?
It is on the Academic Word List, so it appears often in IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, and university texts.
How do you pronounce "Circumstances"?
"Circumstances" is pronounced /ˈsər-kəm-ˌstan(t)s/ as a noun, /ik-ˈsten-yə-ˌwā-tiŋ/ as an adjective and /ˈmi-tə-ˌgāt/ as a verb and divided into syllables as cir·cum·stance.
What is the origin of the word "Circumstances"?
"Circumstances" comes from Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin circumstantia, from circumstant-, circumstans, present participle of circumstare to stand around, from circum- + stare to stand stand. First known use: 13th century.