circumstance
/'sə:kəmstəns/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A fact or condition connected with or relevant to an event or action: "Circumstance" refers to a specific detail, factor, or condition that influences a situation.
- A person's financial or material situation: "Circumstance" can describe the conditions of someone's life, particularly regarding wealth or resources.
- Formal, ceremonious procedure: In a formal context, "circumstance" can refer to the detailed ceremony or ritual accompanying an important event.
Examples of Usage
- Noun:
- The police considered every circumstance before making an arrest. (The police considered every relevant fact or condition.)
- They grew up in difficult financial circumstances. (They grew up in a poor material situation.)
- The coronation was conducted with great pomp and circumstance. (The coronation was carried out with elaborate ceremony.)
Advanced Usage
- "Under no circumstances": Never; not for any reason.
- Under no circumstances should you open that door.
- "In/under the circumstances": Given the specific conditions of the situation.
- In the circumstances, I think we should postpone the meeting.
- "A mere circumstance": An insignificant detail.
- That objection is a mere circumstance and does not affect the main argument.
Variants and Related Words
- Circumstantial (adj): Referring to details or evidence that is based on circumstances rather than direct proof.
- The case against him was purely circumstantial.
- Circumstantiate (verb): To describe or support a statement with detailed facts.
- The report failed to circumstantiate its main claims.
Synonyms
- Condition: A state of affairs or situation.
- Factor: An element that contributes to a result.
- Situation: A set of circumstances in which one finds oneself.
Related Phrases
- "Circumstances alter cases": (Proverb) The appropriate action depends on the specific situation; one rule does not fit all situations.
- We must be flexible; circumstances alter cases.
- "Pomp and circumstance": A phrase describing a formal, grand, and ceremonious occasion.
- The graduation ceremony was full of pomp and circumstance.
Idioms
- "Not a circumstance to": (Chiefly US, informal) Not comparable to; not nearly as good as.
- His new car isn't a circumstance to his old one.
- "To be behindhand in one's circumstances": (Archaic) To be in financial difficulty.
- After the business failed, he found himself behindhand in his circumstances.
Noun
- formal ceremony about important occasions
- pomp and circumstance
- information that should be kept in mind when making a decision
- another consideration is the time it would take
- the set of facts or circumstances that surround a situation or event
- the historical context
- a condition that accompanies or influences some event or activity