Dictionary.com

situation

[ sich-oo-ey-shuhn ]
/ ˌsɪtʃ uˈeɪ ʃən /
Save This Word!
See synonyms for: situation / situations / situational on Thesaurus.com
noun
QUIZ
CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?
There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?
Question 1 of 7
Which sentence is correct?
His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.
His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of situation

First recorded in 1480–90, situation is from the Medieval Latin word situātiōn- (stem of situātiō). See situate, -ion

synonym study for situation

4. See state. 5. See position.

OTHER WORDS FROM situation

sit·u·a·tion·al, adjectivesit·u·a·tion·al·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Words related to situation

position, case, condition, place, plight, scene, job, trade, bearings, direction, footing, latitude, locale, locality, location, locus, longitude, post, seat, setting

How to use situation in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for situation

situation
/ (ˌsɪtjʊˈeɪʃən) /
noun
physical placement, esp with regard to the surroundings
  1. state of affairs; combination of circumstances
  2. a complex or critical state of affairs in a novel, play, etc
social or financial status, position, or circumstances
a position of employment; post

Derived forms of situation

situational, adjective

usage for situation

Situation is often used in contexts in which it is redundant or imprecise. Typical examples are: the company is in a crisis situation or people in a job situation. In the first example, situation does not add to the meaning and should be omitted. In the second example, it would be clearer and more concise to substitute a phrase such as people at work
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with situation

situation

see no-win situation.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
FEEDBACK