SITUATION

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does situation mean? 

• SITUATION (noun)
  The noun SITUATION has 5 senses:

1. the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time

2. a condition or position in which you find yourself

3. a complex or critical or unusual difficulty

4. physical position in relation to the surroundings

5. a job in an organization

  Familiarity information: SITUATION used as a noun is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SITUATION (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

situation; state of affairs

Context example:

eternal truths will be neither true nor eternal unless they have fresh meaning for every new social situation

Hypernyms ("situation" is a kind of...):

state (the way something is with respect to its main attributes)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "situation"):

absurd; the absurd (a situation in which life seems irrational and meaningless)

acceptance (the state of being acceptable and accepted)

ballgame; new ballgame (a particular situation that is radically different from the preceding situation)

challenge (a demanding or stimulating situation)

childlessness (the condition of being without offspring)

complication (a situation or condition that is complex or confused)

crowding (a situation in which people or things are crowded together)

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)

environment (the totality of surrounding conditions)

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)

hotbed (a situation that is ideal for rapid development (especially of something bad))

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)

prison; prison house (a prisonlike situation; a place of seeming confinement)

rejection (the state of being rejected)

size; size of it (the actual state of affairs)

square one (the situation in which you begin an endeavor and to which you return if your efforts fail)

status quo (the existing state of affairs)

thing (a special situation)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A condition or position in which you find yourself

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

position; situation

Context example:

found herself in a very fortunate situation

Hypernyms ("situation" is a kind of...):

condition; status (a state at a particular time)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "situation"):

place; shoes (a particular situation)

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)

stymie; stymy (a situation in golf where an opponent's ball blocks the line between your ball and the hole)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A complex or critical or unusual difficulty

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Context example:

no human situation is simple

Hypernyms ("situation" is a kind of...):

difficulty (a condition or state of affairs almost beyond one's ability to deal with and requiring great effort to bear or overcome)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "situation"):

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)

crunch (a critical situation that arises because of a shortage (as a shortage of time or money or resources))

hornet's nest; hornets' nest (a highly contentious or hazardous situation)

hot potato (a difficult situation)

how-d'ye-do; how-do-you-do (an awkward situation)

embroilment; imbroglio (an intricate and confusing interpersonal or political situation)

Mexican standoff (a situation in which no one can emerge as a clear winner)

incubus; nightmare (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)

pass; strait; straits (a bad or difficult situation or state of affairs)

purgatory (a temporary condition of torment or suffering)

swamp (a situation fraught with difficulties and imponderables)

ticking bomb; time bomb (a problematic situation that will eventually become dangerous if not addressed)

tinderbox (a dangerous state of affairs; a situation that is a potential source of violence)

urgency (an urgent situation calling for prompt action)

dead end; deadlock; impasse; stalemate; standstill (a situation in which no progress can be made or no advancement is possible)

quicksand (a treacherous situation that tends to entrap and destroy)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Physical position in relation to the surroundings

Classified under:

Nouns denoting spatial position

Synonyms:

site; situation

Context example:

the sites are determined by highly specific sequences of nucleotides

Hypernyms ("situation" is a kind of...):

place; position (the particular portion of space occupied by something)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "situation"):

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; determinant; epitope (the site on the surface of an antigen molecule to which an antibody attaches itself)

Derivation:

situate (determine or indicate the place, site, or limits of, as if by an instrument or by a survey)

Sense 5

Meaning:

A job in an organization

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

berth; billet; office; place; position; post; situation; spot

Context example:

he occupied a post in the treasury

Hypernyms ("situation" is a kind of...):

business; job; line; line of work; occupation (the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "situation"):

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)

cardinalate; 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)

deanery; deanship (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)

pastorate; pastorship (the position of pastor)

peasanthood (the state of being a peasant)

plum (a highly desirable position or assignment)

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)

premiership (the office of premier)

presidency; presidentship (the office and function of president)

primateship (the office of primate)

principalship (the post of principal)

priorship (the office of prior)

proconsulate; proconsulship (the position of proconsul)

proctorship (the position of proctor)

chair; professorship (the position of professor)

protectorship (the position of protector)

public office (a position concerning the people as a whole)

rabbinate (the office or function of a rabbi)

receivership (the office of a receiver)

rectorate; rectorship (the office or station of a rector)

regency (the office of a regent)

residency (the position of physician who is receiving special training in a hospital (usually after completing an internship))

rulership (the position of ruler)

sainthood (the status and dignity of a saint)

secretaryship (the position of secretary)

feudal lordship; seigneury; seigniory (the position and authority of a feudal lord)

senatorship (the office of senator)

sinecure (an office that involves minimal duties)

solicitorship (the position of solicitor)

speakership (the position of Speaker)

stewardship (the position of steward)

studentship (the position of student)

teachership (the position of teacher)

thaneship (the position of thane)

throne (the position and power of an exalted person (a sovereign or bishop) who is entitled to sit in a chair of state on ceremonial occasions)

treasurership (the position of treasurer)

tribuneship (the position of tribune)

trusteeship (the position of trustee)

vice-presidency (the office and function of a vice president)

viceroyship (the position of viceroy)

viziership (the position of vizier)

wardenship (the position of warden)

wardership (the position of warder)

womanhood (the status of a woman)

 Context examples 

As I lay there thinking, I naturally dwelt upon myself and my situation.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

She seemed, however, to know the situation without telling, though she was eager to know what she had told.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

“Hurt his feelings, and lost him his situation.”

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

He saw the question in my eyes, and, putting his finger-tips together and his elbows upon his knees, he explained the situation.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

She even considered it the hopeful side of the situation, believing that sooner or later it would arouse him and compel him to abandon his writing.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

But if you consider the European situation you will have no difficulty in perceiving the motive.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Now let us consider the situation and see what may be deduced from it.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Still hidden amongst the trees, he paused to study the situation.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

That's the situation, so far as I could follow it.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

His kindness to his little cousin was consistent with his situation and rights: he made her some very pretty presents, and laughed at her.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)