situation

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sit·u·a·tion

(sĭch′o͞o-ā′shən)

a. The combination of circumstances at a given moment; a state of affairs. See Synonyms at state.

b. A critical, problematic, or striking set of circumstances: We don't want this minor gaffe to turn into a situation.

2. The way in which something is positioned vis-à-vis its surroundings: the town's situation on the river.

3. Position or status with regard to conditions and circumstances: Their family's situation deteriorated during the recession.

4. A position of employment; a post: found a nice situation with a software company.

sit′u·a′tion·al adj.

sit′u·a′tion·al·ly adv.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

situation

(ˌsɪtjʊˈeɪʃən)

1. physical placement, esp with regard to the surroundings

a. state of affairs; combination of circumstances

b. a complex or critical state of affairs in a novel, play, etc

3. social or financial status, position, or circumstances

4. (Professions) a position of employment; post

ˌsituˈational adj

Usage: 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 and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

sit•u•a•tion

(ˌsɪtʃ uˈeɪ ʃən)

n.

1. manner of being situated; location or position with reference to environment.

2. a place or locality.

3. condition; case; plight: in a desperate situation.

4. the state of affairs; combination of circumstances: the international situation.

5. a position or post of employment; job.

6. a state of affairs of special or critical significance in the course of a play, novel, etc.

7. the aggregate of biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors acting on an individual or group to condition behavioral patterns.

[1480–90; < Medieval Latin situātiō. See situate, -tion]

sit`u•a′tion•al, adj.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

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Noun	1.	situation - the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time; "the present international situation is dangerous"; "wondered how such a state of affairs had come about"; "eternal truths will be neither true nor eternal unless they have fresh meaning for every new social situation"- Franklin D.Roosevelt state of affairs state - the way something is with respect to its main attributes; "the current state of knowledge"; "his state of health"; "in a weak financial state" absurd, the absurd - a situation in which life seems irrational and meaningless; "The absurd is the essential concept and the first truth"--Albert Camus acceptance - the state of being acceptable and accepted; "torn jeans received no acceptance at the country club" ballgame, new ballgame - a particular situation that is radically different from the preceding situation; "HDTV looks the same but it's really a whole new ballgame" challenge - a demanding or stimulating situation; "they reacted irrationally to the challenge of Russian power" childlessness - the condition of being without offspring complication - a situation or condition that is complex or confused; "her coming was a serious complication" crowding - a situation in which people or things are crowded together; "he didn't like the crowding on the beach" disequilibrium - loss of equilibrium attributable to an unstable situation in which some forces outweigh others element - the situation in which you are happiest and most effective; "in your element" environment - the totality of surrounding conditions; "he longed for the comfortable environment of his living room" equilibrium - a stable situation in which forces cancel one another exclusion - the state of being excluded fish bowl, fishbowl, goldfish bowl - a state of affairs in which you have no privacy; "the president lives in a goldfish bowl" hotbed - a situation that is ideal for rapid development (especially of something bad); "it was a hotbed of vice" inclusion - the state of being included intestacy - the situation of being or dying without a legally valid will picture, scene - a situation treated as an observable object; "the political picture is favorable"; "the religious scene in England has changed in the last century" prison house, prison - a prisonlike situation; a place of seeming confinement rejection - the state of being rejected size of it, size - the actual state of affairs; "that's the size of the situation"; "she hates me, that's about the size of it" square one - the situation in which you begin an endeavor and to which you return if your efforts fail; "the police are now back at square one after having arrested and released 27 men"; "she has tried to diet but always ends up back at square one" status quo - the existing state of affairs thing - a special situation; "this thing has got to end"; "it is a remarkable thing"
	2.	situation - a condition or position in which you find yourself; "the unpleasant situation (or position) of having to choose between two evils"; "found herself in a very fortunate situation" position condition, status - a state at a particular time; "a condition (or state) of disrepair"; "the current status of the arms negotiations" shoes, place - a particular situation; "If you were in my place what would you do?" poverty trap - a situation in which an increase in income results in a loss of benefits so that you are no better off soup - an unfortunate situation; "we're in the soup now" stymie, stymy - a situation in golf where an opponent's ball blocks the line between your ball and the hole
	3.	situation - a complex or critical or unusual difficulty; "the dangerous situation developed suddenly"; "that's quite a situation"; "no human situation is simple" conflict of interest - a situation in which a public official's decisions are influenced by the official's personal interests crisis - an unstable situation of extreme danger or difficulty; "they went bankrupt during the economic crisis" crunch - a critical situation that arises because of a shortage (as a shortage of time or money or resources); "an end-of-the year crunch"; "a financial crunch" hornet's nest, hornets' nest - a highly contentious or hazardous situation; "talk of invading Iraq stirred up a political hornets' nest" hot potato - a difficult situation; "he dropped the topic like a hot potato" how-do-you-do, how-d'ye-do - an awkward situation; "that's a fine how-d'ye-do" embroilment, imbroglio - an intricate and confusing interpersonal or political situation Mexican standoff - a situation in which no one can emerge as a clear winner nightmare, incubus - a situation resembling a terrifying dream no-win situation - a situation in which a favorable outcome is impossible; you are bound to lose whatever you do straits, strait, pass - a bad or difficult situation or state of affairs purgatory - a temporary condition of torment or suffering; "a purgatory of drug abuse" swamp - a situation fraught with difficulties and imponderables; "he was trapped in a medical swamp" ticking bomb, time bomb - a problematic situation that will eventually become dangerous if not addressed; "India is a demographic time bomb"; "the refugee camp is a ticking bomb waiting to go off" tinderbox - a dangerous state of affairs; a situation that is a potential source of violence; "the Balkans are the tinderbox of Europe" urgency - an urgent situation calling for prompt action; "I'll be there, barring any urgencies"; "they departed hurriedly because of some great urgency in their affairs" deadlock, impasse, stalemate, standstill, dead end - a situation in which no progress can be made or no advancement is possible; "reached an impasse on the negotiations" difficulty - a condition or state of affairs almost beyond one's ability to deal with and requiring great effort to bear or overcome; "grappling with financial difficulties" quicksand - a treacherous situation that tends to entrap and destroy
	4.	situation - physical position in relation to the surroundings; "the sites are determined by highly specific sequences of nucleotides" site position, place - the particular portion of space occupied by something; "he put the lamp back in its place" active site - the part of an enzyme or antibody where the chemical reaction occurs close quarters - a situation of being uncomfortably close to someone or something locus - the specific site of a particular gene on its chromosome locus of infection - the specific site in the body where an infection originates restriction site - the specific sites at which a restriction enzyme will cleave DNA antigenic determinant, epitope, determinant - the site on the surface of an antigen molecule to which an antibody attaches itself
	5.	situation - a job in an organization; "he occupied a post in the treasury" berth, billet, post, position, office, place, spot job, line of work, occupation, business, line - the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money; "he's not in my line of business" academicianship - the position of member of an honorary academy accountantship - the position of accountant admiralty - the office of admiral ambassadorship - the post of ambassador apostleship - the position of apostle apprenticeship - the position of apprentice associateship - the position of associate (as in an office or academy) attorneyship - the position of attorney bailiffship - the office of bailiff baronetage - the state of a baronet bishopry, episcopate - the office and dignity of a bishop cadetship - the position of cadet caliphate - the office of a caliph captaincy, captainship - the post of captain cardinalship - the office of cardinal chairmanship - the position of chairman chancellorship - the office of chancellor chaplaincy, chaplainship - the position of chaplain chieftaincy, chieftainship - the position of chieftain clerkship - the job of clerk commandership, commandery - the position or office of commander comptrollership - the position of comptroller consulship - the post of consul controllership - the position of controller councillorship, councilorship - the position of council member counsellorship, counselorship - the position of counselor curacy - the position of a curate curatorship - the position of curator custodianship - the position of custodian deanship, deanery - the position or office of a dean directorship - the position of a director of a business concern discipleship - the position of disciple editorship - the position of editor eldership - the office of elder emirate - the office of an emir fatherhood - the status of a father fatherhood - the status of a religious leader foremanship - the position of foreman generalcy, generalship - the office and authority of a general governorship - the office of governor headship - the position of head headship - the position of headmaster or headmistress hot seat - a difficult position where you are subjected to stress and criticism incumbency - the office of an incumbent inspectorship - the office of inspector instructorship - the position of instructor internship - the position of a medical intern judgeship, judicature - the position of judge khanate - the position of a khan lectureship - the post of lecturer legateship, legation - the post or office of legate legislatorship - the office of legislator librarianship - the position of librarian lieutenancy - the position of a lieutenant magistracy, magistrature - the position of magistrate managership - the position of manager manhood - the status of being a man marshalship - the post of marshall mastership - the position of master mayoralty - the position of mayor messiahship - the position of messiah moderatorship - the position of moderator overlordship - the position of overlord pastorship, pastorate - the position of pastor peasanthood - the state of being a peasant; "the same homely dress she wore in the days of her peasanthood" plum - a highly desirable position or assignment; "a political plum" praetorship - the office of praetor precentorship - the position of precentor preceptorship - the position of preceptor prefecture - the office of prefect prelacy, prelature - the office or station of a prelate

situation

noun

1. position, state, case, condition, circumstances, equation, plight, status quo, state of affairs, ball game (informal), kettle of fish (informal) We are in a difficult financial situation.

2. scenario, the picture (informal), the score (informal), state of affairs, equation, state of play, lie of the land They looked at each other and weighed up the situation.

3. location, place, setting, position, seat, site, spot, locality, locale The garden is in a beautiful situation.

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

situation

noun

1. One's place and direction relative to one's surroundings:

bearing (often used in plural), location, orientation, position.

2. The place where a person or thing is located:

emplacement, location, locus, placement, position, site.

3. Positioning of one individual vis-à-vis others:

footing, place, position, rank, standing, station, status.

4. Manner of being or form of existence:

condition, mode, state, status.

5. A post of employment:

appointment, berth, billet, job, office, place, position, slot, spot.

Slang: gig.

Translations

حَالَةحالَه، وَضْعمَوْضِع، مكانوَظيفَه، مَنْصِب

situaceumístěnízaměstnání

situationstillingbeliggenhed

Situation Stellung Lage Ort Sachverhalt

κατάσταση τοποθεσία θέση εργασίας

situación ubicación vacante empleo estado

tilannetyöpaikkaasemaolosuhteetolot

situation emplacement emploi position

situacija

állásfekvéshelyhelyzetkörülmények

aîstæîur, kringumstæîurstaîsetningstarf, staîa

situazione posizione circostanza impiego

状況場所境遇情勢状態

상황

darbo vietaišsidėstęspatalpintas

atrašanās vietadarbavietanovietojumssituācijastāvoklis

обстановка положение расположение ситуация состояние

umiestnenie

položajrazmere

situation

สถานการณ์

durum görev iş vaziyet yer

hoàn cảnh

情况位置地点境况工作

situation

[ˌsɪtjʊˈeɪʃən]

A. N

1. (= position) → situación f, ubicación f (esp LAm)

2. (= circumstances) → situación f
to save the situation → salvar la situación

3. (= job) → empleo m, vacante f
"situations vacant" → ofertas de empleo
"situations wanted" → demandas de empleo

B. CPD situation comedy N (TV, Rad) → comedia f de situación

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

situation

[ˌsɪtʃuˈeɪʃ^ən] n

(= circumstances) → situation f
It's an impossible situation → C'est une situation impossible.

(= location) → situation
The city is in a beautiful situation → La situation de la ville est magnifique.

(mainly British) (= job) → situation f
It's not so easy to find another situation → Ce n'est pas si facile de trouver une autre situation.
"situations vacant" → "offres d'emploi"
"situations wanted" → "demandes d'emploi"situation comedy n → comédie f de situationsit-ups [ˈsɪtʌps] situps (US) npl → abdominaux mpl
to do sit-ups → faire des abdominaux

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

situation

(= state of affairs) → Lage f, → Situation f; (financial, marital etc) → Lage f, → Verhältnisse pl; (in play, novel) → Situation f; to save the situation → die Lage or Situation retten; a 2-0 situation → eine 2:0-Situation

(of house etc) → Lage f

(= job) → Stelle f; “situations vacant” (Brit) → „Stellenangebote“; “situations wanted” (Brit) → „Stellengesuche“

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

situation

[ˌsɪtjʊˈeɪʃ/ən] n (position) → posizione f (fig) → situazione f (frm) (old) (job) → lavoro, impiego
"situations vacant/wanted" (Brit) → "offerte fpl/domande fpl di impiego"
to save the situation → salvare la situazione

situation

(sitjuˈeiʃən) noun

1. circumstances; a state of affairs. an awkward situation.

2. the place where anything stands or lies. The house has a beautiful situation beside a lake.

3. a job. the situations-vacant columns of the newspaper.

ˈsituated adjective

to be found; placed. The new school is situated on the north side of town.

situation

→ حَالَة situace situation Situation κατάσταση situación tilanne situation situacija situazione 状況 상황 situatie situasjon sytuacja situação ситуация situation สถานการณ์ durum hoàn cảnh 情况

sit·u·a·tion

n. situación, localización.

References in classic literature ?

Reversal of the Situation is a change by which the action veers round to its opposite, subject always to our rule of probability or necessity.

View in context

But the safety of the people of America against dangers from FOREIGN force depends not only on their forbearing to give JUST causes of war to other nations, but also on their placing and continuing themselves in such a situation as not to INVITE hostility or insult; for it need not be observed that there are PRETENDED as well as just causes of war.

View in context

ASSUMING it therefore as an established truth that the several States, in case of disunion, or such combinations of them as might happen to be formed out of the wreck of the general Confederacy, would be subject to those vicissitudes of peace and war, of friendship and enmity, with each other, which have fallen to the lot of all neighboring nations not united under one government, let us enter into a concise detail of some of the consequences that would attend such a situation.

View in context

I had hoped that her regard for me would support her under any difficulty, and for some time it did; but at last the misery of her situation, for she experienced great unkindness, overcame all her resolution, and though she had promised me that nothing--but how blindly I relate!

View in context

I have left my situation; and some little time may elapse before I find another.

View in context

We may say that an "instinctive" movement is a vital movement performed by an animal the first time that it finds itself in a novel situation; or, more correctly, one which it would perform if the situation were novel.* The instincts of an animal are different at different periods of its growth, and this fact may cause changes of behaviour which are not due to learning.

View in context

I cannot draw like Mary, and so the best thing I could do would be to look out for another situation.'

View in context

It is immaterial which was my situation. The situation is what counts, and the situation was that social intercourse for me was getting painful and difficult.

View in context

Some readers will, perhaps, condemn this extraordinary delicacy, as I may call it, of virtue, as too nice and scrupulous; but we must make allowances for her situation, which must be owned to have been very ticklish; and, when we consider the malice of censorious tongues, we must allow, if it was a fault, the fault was an excess on the right side, and which every woman who is in the self-same situation will do well to imitate.

View in context

'Placed me in such an extremely awkward situation,' continued Mr.

View in context

He was now esteemed quite worthy to address the daughter of a foolish, spendthrift baronet, who had not had principle or sense enough to maintain himself in the situation in which Providence had placed him, and who could give his daughter at present but a small part of the share of ten thousand pounds which must be hers hereafter.

View in context

but it is not a man's; and as a child is incomplete, it is evident that his virtue is not to be referred to himself in his present situation, but to that in which he will be complete, and his preceptor.