What does circumstance mean?
Word: Circumstance
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Circumstance means a fact or condition connected with an event, which affects what happens. We often use the plural, circumstances.
Synonyms: situation, condition
How do you spell circumstance?
Syllables: cir - cum - stance
Tricky part: The last part is stance, the word for the way you stand, so it ends in ance. The s sound at the very end is spelt ce.
Watch out for: circumstanse, circamstance
Memory tip: Stand inside a circle: circumstances are the things standing all round an event, so the word ends with stance, the way you stand.
Idioms and Phrases
- under no circumstances: Never, whatever happens. Example: "Under no circumstances should you open the door to strangers."
Circumstance in a sentence
Example 1: Because of the circumstances, the match was moved to Sunday.
Example 2: Our teacher listened to the circumstances before deciding who would play first.
Example 3: She stayed cheerful even in difficult circumstances.
Fun Fact
Pomp and Circumstance is the name of a set of marches by the English composer Edward Elgar. One of them is often played at graduation ceremonies.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell-o-Spell
Choose the correctly spelt word:
a) condision
b) ocassion
c) enviroment
d) circumstance
Show answer
d) circumstance. Occasion has a double c and one s, condition has a t, and environment keeps the n before ment.
Mingle-Mangle
Form a meaningful word from the jumbled letters:
mtcanicreucs
a) circumstance
b) instance
c) circulation
d) circumference
Show answer
a) circumstance. There is no f in the jumble, so circumference is out; the twelve letters end in stance.
Word Makeup
Choose the prefix that completes the word:
stance
a) circum
b) curcum
c) sircum
d) circom
Show answer
a) circum. Circum means around, and it is spelt c-i-r-c-u-m, with an i first and a u second.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Grandma asked about the circumstances of the delay. What did she want to know?
a) how long the trip was
b) how and why it happened
c) who the driver was
d) what the tickets cost
Show answer
b) how and why it happened
2. Because of unusual circumstances, the school closed early. Which could be one of those circumstances?
a) a test being marked
b) a new teacher joining
c) the bell ringing on time
d) a sudden flood on the roads
Show answer
d) a sudden flood on the roads
