ˈsɝkəmstænsɪz ˈsɜːkəmst(ə)nsɪz ˈdɛstɪni feɪt ˈfɔːtʃuːn ˈfɔɹtʃən lɒt lɑt lʌk lʌk ˈpɔɹʃən ˈpɔːʃən a person's financial situation (good or bad) he found himself in straitened circumstances your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you) whatever my fortune may be deserved a better fate has a happy lot the luck of the Irish a victim of circumstances success that was her portion