circumstance

noun

/ˈsɜː.kəm.stɑːns/

/ˈsɝː.kəm.stæns/

Definition

B2 [C usually plural] a fact or event that makes a situation the way it is: I think she coped very well under the circumstances. Obviously we can't deal with the problem until we know all the circumstances. She died in suspicious circumstances. We oppose capital punishment in/under any circumstances. Under no circumstances should you (= you should not) approach the man. The meeting has been cancelled due to circumstances beyond our control.Situations and circumstances › [U] formal events that change your life, over which you have no control: They were victims of circumstance. We were obliged to go by force of circumstance.Chance and randomness circumstances › how much money someone has: Grants are available depending on your circumstances. By now she was alone and living in reduced circumstances (= with little money).General words for amounts of moneyLarge amounts of moneySmall amounts of money

(Definition of circumstance noun from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

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