Word
predicament
Phoneticspredica·ment
US/pɹiˈdɪkəmənt/
UK/pɹɪdˈɪkəmənt/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a difficult or unpleasant situation that is hard to get out of. You use this when you are stuck and do not know what to do next.
n. a difficult, unpleasant, or embarrassing situation from which escape or resolution is complex. Often implies a state of uncertainty or a lack of clear options.
Examples
“I found myself in a difficult predicament when I lost my passport.”
“The company faced a financial predicament after their main supplier suddenly went bankrupt without warning.”
“The protagonist's moral predicament stems from the conflicting loyalties he feels toward his family and his professional duty to the state.”
Examples
simple
“I found myself in a difficult predicament when I lost my passport.”
contextual
“The company faced a financial predicament after their main supplier suddenly went bankrupt without warning.”
complex
“The protagonist's moral predicament stems from the conflicting loyalties he feels toward his family and his professional duty to the state.”
Usage
Frequently used with the verbs 'find oneself in', 'face', or 'escape from'.
Real-World Examples
“Countries like Nepal face a similar predicament, he added: “hit by the climate we did not warm and hit again by the wars we did not start.”
Yet Mr.” “The Lib Dems’ central predicament has remained unchanged for a century, ever since the decline of David Lloyd George and the rise of the Labour party.” “Mohammed al-Farah, a Houthi political bureau member, said: “The truth is that Saudi Arabia is experiencing a real predicament in Yemen.” Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/predicament