A circumstance is a fact or condition that affects a situation. When something happens, the circumstances are all the details surrounding it: the time, place, who was involved, what led up to it, and what else was going on.

If your teacher asks about the circumstances of a playground argument, she wants to know the full picture: Were you already having a bad day? Did someone accidentally bump you, or was it on purpose? Were others watching and egging people on? These details matter because they help explain why something happened, not just what happened.

The phrase under the circumstances means “given the situation.” If you normally finish your homework quickly but took longer one night under the circumstances of a family emergency, people understand. If an athlete performs well under difficult circumstances, like playing with an injury or in terrible weather, their achievement means even more.

People also use the phrase beyond your control when describing circumstances. Some circumstances you can change or influence, like studying harder to improve your grades. Others are beyond your control, like a thunderstorm canceling your field trip.