Dictionary

situation en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /sɪ.tʃʊˈʋe.ʃən/ (South-Asia)
• /ˌsɪ.t͡ʃuˈ(w)eɪ.ʃən/ (Canada, General-American)
• /ˌsɪt.juːˈeɪ.ʃən/ (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
• (US) audio
• sĭt-yo͞o-ā'shən (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
• [ˌsɪt.juˈeɪ.ʃn̩] (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˌsɪtjʉwˈɛjʃ(ə)n/ (British, Southern, Standard)
• [ˌsət.jʉːˈæɪ.ʃn̩] (New-Zealand)
• /ˌsət.jʉːˈæɪ.ʃən/ (New-Zealand)
• /sɪ.ʈ(j)ʊˈʋe.ʃən/ (South-Asia)
• [ˌsɪt.juːˈeɪ.ʃn̩] (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˌsɪt.juˈeɪ.ʃən/ (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˌsɪt͡ʃʉwˈɛjʃ(ə)n/ (British, Southern, Standard)
• sĭch-o͞o-ā'shən (Canada, General-American)
• [ˌsɪt.jʉːˈæɪ.ʃn̩] (Australia)
• [ˌsɪ.t͡ʃuˈeɪ.ʃn̩] (Canada, General-American)
• /ˌsɪt.jʉːˈæɪ.ʃən/ (Australia)

Etymology

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”). By surface analysis, situate + -ion.

Meanings

1. The combination of circumstances at a given moment; a state of affairs.
   • 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. 1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter V, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC:
   • By 29, my financial situation wasn’t just disorganized, it was untenable. I didn’t have enough money to cover a single unexpected expense, and my credit card balance wasn’t going down; the interest was outpacing me. 2026 April 22, Jillian Sanders, “The Danger of Surrendering Your Financial Independence in a Relationship”, in TIME, archived from the original on 22 Apr 2026:
   • The United States is in an awkward situation with debt default looming.
2. The way in which something is positioned vis-à-vis its surroundings.
   • […]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. 1908 October, Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows, New York, N.Y.: Charles Scribner’s Sons, →OCLC:
   • The Botanical Gardens are in a delightful situation on the river bank.
3. The place in which something is situated; a location.
   • [Hibíscus] speciòsus is the most splendid, and deserves a situation in every garden. 1833, Thomas Hibbert, Robert Buist, The American Flower Garden Directory, page 142:
   • I described the situation as well as I could, and was entering upon an explanation of the various roads, lanes, and fields to be traversed in order to reach it, the goings straight on, and turnings to the right, and the left[…] 1848, Anne Brontë, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, page 37:
   • […] one of the most pleasant situations in America. With the exception of one melancholy season, no town in the union, of its size, has had a greater share of the inestimable blessing of health. 1801, Timothy Alden, The Glory of America. A Century Sermon, Delivered at the South Church, in Portsmouth, Newhampshire ... Together with ... Historical Notes, and an Appendix, Containing an Account of Newspapers Printed in the State, page 37:
4. Position or status with regard to conditions and circumstances.
5. (UK) A position of employment; a post.
   • You take a morning paper from the top of the stack And read the situations from the front to the back The only job that's open need a man with a knack So put it right back in the rack Jack. 1946, Vaughn Horton, Denver Darling, Milt Gabler, Choo Choo Ch'Boogie:
   • ‘Let me hear another sound from you,’ said Scrooge, ‘and you’ll keep your Christmas by losing your situation! 1843, Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol:
   • When he was nineteen, he suddenly left the 'Co-op' office, and got a situation in Nottingham. 1913, D[avid] H[erbert] Lawrence, “Chapter 3”, in Sons and Lovers, London: Duckworth & Co. […], →OCLC:
6. A difficult or unpleasant set of circumstances; a problem.
   • Boss, we've got a situation here…
7. (US, qualifier:film industry) An individual movie theater.
   • This survey includes all key situations (including Paramount Gulf Theaters) as well as suburban runs and small-town situations. 1950, United States. Congress. House. Committee on Ways and Means, Revenue Revision of 1950: Hearings Before the Committee, page 1805:
   • […] 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. 1960, Motion Picture Herald, volumes 218-219, page 14:
8. (slang) An outfit, garment, or look.
   • She is working some sort of amazing burgundy chiffon situation with gold piping.

Forms

Deriveds

resituation · interesting situation · situation awareness · situational · sticky situation · situation theory · chicken-and-egg situation · situationless · shituation · situationist · clinical situation · in-basket situation · situationism · situation room · situationship · limit situation · special situation

Relateds

situate · situated · sitcom · situation comedy · site

Synonyms

plight · ass in a sling · condition (combination of circumstances) · spot of bother · difficulty · trouble · jam · quandary · kettle of fish · dire straits · pinch · tight spot · sticky wicket · quagmire · cross to bear · predicament · fix · dilemma · spot · bind · sticky situation · doghouse · bucket of syrup · hole · cauldron · kettle · set up · situation · cross · calvary · pickle · ordeal

Translations (344)

pl położenie (one's status with regard to circumstances) · ru состоя́ние (one's status with regard to circumstances) · da situation (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · az vəziyyət (one's status with regard to circumstances) · el κατάσταση (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · tg вазъ (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · bg положе́ние (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · vi vị trí (location) · ar وَضْع (one's status with regard to circumstances) · id situasi (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · gl situación (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · sl situacija (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · ko 상황 (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · uk ситуа́ція (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · ru местонахожде́ние (location) · ru положе́ние (position of employment) · sq situatë (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · ja 情況 (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · hy տեղադրություն (location) · ko 상황 (one's status with regard to circumstances) · hu körülmények (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · ro poziţie (position of employment) · ro poziție (location) · hy տեղ (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · ko 위치 (location) · de Platz (location) · ko 상태 (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · eo aferstato (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · es estado (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · it situazione (one's status with regard to circumstances) · sk pozícia (position of employment) · ar حَالَة (one's status with regard to circumstances) · hy իրադրություն (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · sv plats (one's status with regard to circumstances) · es estado (one's status with regard to circumstances) · ka სიტუაცია (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · ga staid (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · hu helyzet (one's status with regard to circumstances) · zza hal (diq) (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · az durum (one's status with regard to circumstances) · ar وَضْع (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · sv situation (one's status with regard to circumstances) · ia situation (one's status with regard to circumstances) · fa موقعیت (location) · fr situation (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · it situazione (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · hu viszonyok (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · ml സാഹചര്യം (one's status with regard to circumstances) · fi sijainti (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · eo situacio (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · fr localisation (location) · ba торош (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · ru до́лжность (position of employment) · fi olot (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · fa وضعیت (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · ba урын (location) · fa رتبه (position of employment) · az hal (one's status with regard to circumstances) · fi tilanne (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · ru расположе́ние (location) · ba урынлашыу (location) · ru положе́ние (one's status with regard to circumstances) · id situasi (one's status with regard to circumstances) · bg състояние (one's status with regard to circumstances) · he מצב (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · az yerləşdiyi yer (location) · sv anställning (position of employment) · pt localização (location) · hu fekvés (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · uk стано́вище (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · de Ort (location) · uk поло́ження (one's status with regard to circumstances) · ar وَضْع (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · bg положение (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · cs situace (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · tg рутба (position of employment) · ga cás (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · ja 状況 (one's status with regard to circumstances) · tg ҳол (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · ru положе́ние (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · mi āhuatanga (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · de Lage (location) · lv stāvoklis (location) · ja 状況 (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · ka სიტუაცია (one's status with regard to circumstances) · tg ҷойгоҳ (position of employment) · nl situatie (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · mi tūnga (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · ko 처지 (one's status with regard to circumstances) · zza waz (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · az vəziyyət (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · ia situation (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · uk стано́вище (one's status with regard to circumstances) · de Lage (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · ba хәл (one's status with regard to circumstances) · az vəziyyət (location) · be стано́вішча (one's status with regard to circumstances) · tg макон (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · nl situatie (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · ro post (position of employment) · sh situacija (one's status with regard to circumstances) · cs poloha (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · ro stadiu (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · tg вазъият (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · fi työpaikka (position of employment) · sv läge (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · az durum (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · fi tilanne (one's status with regard to circumstances) · lv situācija (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · sv ställning (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · ko 상태 (one's status with regard to circumstances) · sk situácia (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · fi tehtävä (position of employment) · ca lloc (location) · ro situație (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · ar حَالَة (location) · cmn 情況 /情况 (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · fr poste (position of employment) · cmn 情況 /情况 (one's status with regard to circumstances) · tg ҷойгоҳ (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · fa شأن (position of employment) · sv plats (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · vi tình hình (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · ru местоположе́ние (location) · tg ҷойгиршавӣ (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · pl pozycja (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · es nivel (position of employment) · ja 位置 (location) · it posizione (location) · zza holet (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · ro stare (one's status with regard to circumstances) · ca situació (one's status with regard to circumstances) · ru пози́ция (location) · ang steall (one's status with regard to circumstances) · de Situation (one's status with regard to circumstances) · ta நிலை (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · zza cayge (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · uk стан (one's status with regard to circumstances) · es situación (one's status with regard to circumstances) · ta நிலைமை (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · tl estado (one's status with regard to circumstances) · hi स्थिति (location) · vi địa điểm (location) · sv ställning (one's status with regard to circumstances) · gd suidheachadh (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · az mövqe (location) · uk ситуа́ція (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · lv stāvoklis (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · ga áit (location) · ru ситуа́ция (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · el κατάσταση (one's status with regard to circumstances) · uk розташува́ння (location) · ro situație (one's status with regard to circumstances) · tg мавқеият (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · it condizione (one's status with regard to circumstances) · fa وضعیت (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · cs situace (one's status with regard to circumstances) · tl kalagayan (one's status with regard to circumstances) · ru ситуа́ция (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · ml അവസ്ഥ (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · ja 場所 (location) · kk жағдай (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · cmn 場所 /场所 (location) · cmn 情勢 /情势 (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · ur حالات (one's status with regard to circumstances) · hi परिस्थिति (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · pl sytuacja (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · ar حَالَة (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · nl situatie (one's status with regard to circumstances) · pt situação (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · es ubicación (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · ba торош (location) · ca ubicació (location) · tr hâl (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · te స్థితి (one's status with regard to circumstances) · mi pūāhua (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · be сітуа́цыя (one's status with regard to circumstances) · uk обстано́вка (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · sv ställning (position of employment) · ga cúrsaí (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · ko 처지 (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · lv stāvoklis (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · tg ҷойгаҳ (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · ga cás (one's status with regard to circumstances) · fa وضعیت (one's status with regard to circumstances) · ro situație (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · fr situation (location) · ko 상황 (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · gd suidheachadh (one's status with regard to circumstances) · ba хәл (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · sv placering (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · eo stato (one's status with regard to circumstances) · fa جایگاه (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · de Lage (one's status with regard to circumstances) · lv stāvoklis (one's status with regard to circumstances) · ar حَالَة (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · te పరిస్థితి (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · ga scéal (one's status with regard to circumstances) · cmn 狀態 /状态 (one's status with regard to circumstances) · ro posturi (position of employment) · cmn 情況 /情况 (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · ru ситуа́ция (one's status with regard to circumstances) · bg ситуа́ция (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · ru обстано́вка (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · sv tjänst (position of employment) · es ubicación (location) · sk situácia (one's status with regard to circumstances) · be месцазнахо́джанне (location) · he מיקום (location) · el τοποθεσία (location) · fr emploi (position of employment) · vi tình thế (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · fa جایگاه (position of employment) · cmn 狀態 /状态 (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · sk poloha (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · eo stato de aferoj (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · es tesitura (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · ang steall (location) · hu munkaalkalom (position of employment) · ga suíomh (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · mi tūāhua (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · hu hely (position of employment) · es puesto (position of employment) · ja 状態 (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · el θέση (location) · ja 状態 (one's status with regard to circumstances) · zza weziyet (diq) (one's status with regard to circumstances) · vi tình hình (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · gd suidheachadh (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · es localización (location) · ky ситуация (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · ru расположе́ние (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · el θέση (position of employment) · tr durum (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · sv läge (location) · mi pūāhua (one's status with regard to circumstances) · ru положе́ние (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · sv plats (position of employment) · gd suidheachadh (location) · hy տեղ (location) · sk miesto (position of employment) · gl localización (location) · mi tūāhua (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · sv plats (location) · be сітуа́цыя (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · ro etapă (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · uk поло́ження (location) · mk ситуација (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · ml സ്ഥിതി (location) · az situasiya (one's status with regard to circumstances) · sk miesto (location) · ar وَضْع (location) · id keadaan (one's status with regard to circumstances) · he מיקום (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · ota وضعیت (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · ro localizare (location) · de Stellung (position of employment) · hy դիրք (one's status with regard to circumstances) · khb ᦋᦸᧂᧈᦂᦱᧃ (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · ko 장소 (location) · ota وضعیت (one's status with regard to circumstances) · sk situácia (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · fr situation (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · el κατάσταση (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · bg обстановка (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · ko 상태 (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · sh položaj (one's status with regard to circumstances) · fa جایگاه (location) · fi asema (position of employment) · ang steall (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · yi סיטואַציע (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · ky жагдай (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · ko 처지 (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · ky кырдаал (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · pl sytuacja (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · mn байрлал (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · nl locatie (location) · sv situation (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · tl sitwasyon (one's status with regard to circumstances) · cs místo (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · th สถานการณ์ (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · ar وَضْع (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · nl positie (position of employment) · ja 境遇 (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · cmn 狀態 /状态 (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · hi परिस्थिति (one's status with regard to circumstances) · es localización (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · ru пози́ция (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · ja 状況 (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · fr situation (one's status with regard to circumstances) · cmn 位置 (location) · hi स्थिति (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · be стан (one's status with regard to circumstances) · uk місцеполо́ження (location) · ro situare (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · fa وضعیت (location) · zza weziyet (diq) (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · ga post (position of employment) · mi tūnga (location) · de Zustand (one's status with regard to circumstances) · cmn 境遇 (one's status with regard to circumstances) · be стано́вішча (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · pt situação (one's status with regard to circumstances) · hy տեղադրություն (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · sv läge (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · de Situation (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · fi olosuhteet (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · hu állás (position of employment) · nl plaats (location) · ca localització (location) · cs situace (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · uk стан (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · pl sytuacja (one's status with regard to circumstances) · it situazione (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · tg ҳолат (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · ka სიტუაცია (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · bn হালত (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · cmn 境遇 (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · ru положе́ние (location) · kk ахуал (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · pt posição (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · az hal (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · ja 情勢 (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · cmn 形勢 /形势 (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · ja 境遇 (one's status with regard to circumstances) · id keadaan (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · pt situação (position of employment) · tg ҷой (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · fr lieu (location) · fi sijainti (location) · tg ҷо (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · bg местоположе́ние (location) · tr yağday (position vis-à-vis surroundings) · az məqam (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · hy իրավիճակ (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · pl położenie (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · hu hely (location) · uk пос́ада (position of employment) · sv status (one's status with regard to circumstances) · ang steall (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · uk ситуа́ція (one's status with regard to circumstances) · es situación (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · bn পরিস্থিতি (combination of circumstances at a given moment; state of affairs) · tg мавқеъ (position vis-à-vis surroundings)