situation

Noun

situation (plural situations or (nonstandard, humorous) situatia)

1. The combination of circumstances at a given moment; a state of affairs.
   • 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.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

   Synonyms:

   condition

2. The way in which something is positioned vis-à-vis its surroundings.
   • 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.1908 October, Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows, New York, N.Y.: Charles Scribner’s Sons, →OCLC
3. The place in which something is situated; a location.
   • […] 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...
   • [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
4. Position or status with regard to conditions and circumstances.
5. (UK) A position of employment; a post.
   • ‘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…

   Synonyms:

   ass in a sling, bind, bucket of syrup, calvary, cauldron, cross, cross to bear, difficulty, dilemma, dire straits

7. (US, 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.