/ ˌsɪtʃuˈeɪʃn; NAmE / noun
1.
all the circumstances and things that are happening at a particular time and in a particular place :
to be in a difficult situation
You could get into a situation where you have to decide immediately.
We have all been in similar embarrassing situations.
the present economic / financial / political, etc. situation
He could see no way out of the situation.
In your situation, I would look for another job.
What we have here is a crisis situation.
I'm in a no-win situation (= whatever I do will be bad for me) .
2.
( formal ) the kind of area or surroundings that a building or town has :
The town is in a delightful situation in a wide green valley.
➡ note at environment
3.
( old-fashioned or formal ) a job :
Situations Vacant (= the title of the section in a newspaper where jobs are advertised)
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SYNONYMS
situation
circumstances ♦ position ♦ conditions ♦ the case ♦ state of affairs
These are all words for the conditions and facts that are connected with and affect they way things are.
situation
all the things that are happening at a particular time and in a particular place:
the present economic situation
circumstances
the facts that are connected with and affect a situation, an event or an action; the conditions of a person's life, especially the money they have:
The ship sank in mysterious circumstances.
position
the situation that sb is in, especially when it affects what they can and cannot do:
She felt she was in a position of power.
conditions
the circumstances in which people live, work or do things; the physical situation that affects how sth happens:
We were forced to work outside in freezing conditions.
circumstances or conditions?
Circumstances refers to sb's financial situation; conditions are things such as the quality and amount of food or shelter they have. The circumstances that affect an event are the facts surrounding it; the conditions that affect it are usually physical ones, such as the weather.
the case
the true situation:
If that is the case (= if the situation described is true) , we need more staff.
state of affairs
a situation:
How did this unhappy state of affairs come about?
situation or state of affairs?
State of affairs is mostly used with this . It also occurs with adjectives describing how good or bad a situation is, such as happy , sorry , shocking , sad and unhappy , as well as those relating to time, such as present and current . Situation is much more frequent and is used in a wider variety of contexts.
PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS :
to be in (a) particular situation / circumstances / position / state of affairs
the / sb's economic / financial / social situation / circumstances / position / conditions
an awkward / embarrassing situation / position / state of affairs
to be faced with a situation / circumstances / a position / conditions / a state of affairs
A situation / state of affairs arises / develops / improves / changes / deteriorates.
Circumstances / conditions arise / develop / improve / change / deteriorate.
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English (in sense 2): from French , or from medieval Latin situatio(n-) , from situare to place (see situate ). Sense 1 dates from the early 18th cent.