Etimology
From Middle English situacioun, situacion, from Middle French situation, from Medieval Latin situatio (“position, situation”), from situare (“to locate, place”), from Latin situs (“a site”). Equivalent to situate + -ion.
noun
situation (plural situations)
The combination of circumstances at a given moment; a state of affairs.
The way in which something is positioned vis-à-vis its surroundings.
The place in which something is situated; a location.
Position or status with regard to conditions and circumstances.
(UK) A position of employment; a post.
A difficult or unpleasant set of circumstances; a problem.
(US, film industry) An individual movie theater.
(slang) An outfit, garment, or look.
Examples
The United States is in an awkward situation with debt default looming.
Then we relapsed into a discomfited silence, and wished we were anywhere else. But Miss Thorn relieved the situation by laughing aloud, and with such a hearty enjoyment that instead of getting angry and more mortified we began to laugh ourselves, and instantly felt better.
The Botanical Gardens are in a delightful situation on the river bank.
[…] he being naturally an underground animal by birth and breeding, the situation of Badger's house exactly suited him and made him feel at home; while the Rat, who slept every night in a bedroom the windows of which opened on a breezy river, naturally felt the atmosphere still and oppressive.
[Hibíscus] speciòsus is the most splendid, and deserves a situation in every garden.
‘Let me hear another sound from you,’ said Scrooge, ‘and you’ll keep your Christmas by losing your situation!
When he was nineteen, he suddenly left the 'Co-op' office, and got a situation in Nottingham.
You take a morning paper from the top of the stackAnd read the situations from the front to the backThe only job that's open need a man with a knackSo put it right back in the rack Jack.
Synonyms: see Thesaurus:difficult situation
Boss, we've got a situation here…
This survey includes all key situations as well as suburban runs and small-town situations.
[…] Craterian theatre, with a full-scale advance campaign and preliminary screenings held for opinion-makers. Results and reactions will be closely studied and, if popular, the idea will be extended to other situations.
She is working some sort of amazing burgundy chiffon situation with gold piping.
Related words
synonyms
(combination of circumstances): condition, set up; see also Thesaurus:state
related terms
site
situate
situated