ENGLISH WORD FILE NO. 00494 · Core CSAT & TOEIC Vocabulary
circumstance
n.
US/ˈsɜːrkəmstæns/
UK/ˈsɜːkəmstəns/
CSAT Frequency78/100
TOEIC Frequency72/100
02
Meanings of circumstance
1noun
A condition or fact affecting the way something happens or the situation in which someone finds themselves.
Due to unforeseen circumstances, the meeting was postponed to next week.
Due to unforeseen circumstances, the meeting was postponed to next week.
Under these difficult circumstances, the company managed to increase profits.
Under these difficult circumstances, the company managed to increase profits.
03
Derivatives of circumstance
circumstantial
derivative (adjective)
The evidence was circumstantial, so the jury remained unconvinced of guilt.
The evidence was circumstantial, so the jury remained unconvinced of guilt.
under the circumstances
derivative (phrase)
Under the circumstances, your decision to resign was understandable.
Under the circumstances, your decision to resign was understandable.
in any circumstance
derivative (phrase)
In any circumstance, safety should be our top priority.
In any circumstance, safety should be our top priority.
04
Synonyms & Antonyms of circumstance
05
Common Phrases with circumstance
under these circumstancesunder these circumstances
due to circumstancesdue to circumstances
given the circumstancesgiven the circumstances
unforeseen circumstancesunforeseen circumstances
difficult circumstancesdifficult circumstances
06
Practice Question: circumstance
Choose the best word for the blank
The company had to lay off workers ___ the economic downturn.
- A due to circumstances of
- B due to circumstances
- C because of the circumstance of
- D owing to circumstance
The phrase 'due to circumstances' is the standard collocation; 'circumstances' is plural and 'due to' takes a noun phrase without requiring 'of' after it.