Meaning of circumstances in English

Table of contents
  1. Pronunciation
  2. Noun
    1. Definitions

  1. Pronunciation

    US accent

    UK accent

  1. Noun

    circumstances

    Definitions

    1. your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)

    Examples

    • « whatever my fortune may be »
    • « deserved a better fate »
    • « has a happy lot »
    • « the luck of the Irish »
    • « a victim of circumstances »
    • « success that was her portion »
  2. 2. the state (usually personal) with regard to wealth

    Examples

    • « each person was helped according to his circumstances »
  3. 3. a person's financial situation (good or bad)

    Examples

    • « he found himself in straitened circumstances »

Famous quotes

  • « The secret of happiness is the determination to be happy always, rather than wait for outer circumstances to make one happy. »
    J. Donald Walters
  • « What we actually learn, from any given set of circumstances, determines whether we become increasingly powerless or more powerful. »
    Blaine Lee
  • « To act coolly, intelligently and prudently in perilous circumstances is the test of a man - and also a nation. »
    Adlai E. Stevenson
  • « Of the primary emotions, fear is the one that bears most directly on survival. Children show fear. Adults try not to, maybe because it's shameful, or, in some circumstances, dangerous. The fear response is automatic, though, and your body runs through its reflexes whether you want it to or not. »
    Sebastian Junger
  • « How are fears born? They are born because of differences in tradition and history they are born because of differences in emotional, political and national circumstances. Because of such differences, people fear they cannot live together. »
    Ehud Olmert

Browse dictionary