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noun B2 Upper-Intermediate Uncommon

predicament

prih-DIH-kuh-muhnt

Predicament (noun) means a difficult, awkward, or unpleasant situation. Example: “Losing his wallet and phone on the same day left him in quite a predicament.”

noun
1
A difficult, awkward, or unpleasant situation.
"Losing his wallet and phone on the same day left him in quite a predicament."
"The company found itself in a financial predicament after losing its biggest client."

How to use predicament

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA tough or tricky spot to be stuck in, usually with no easy way out.

Common pairings
a difficult predicament find yourself in a predicament get out of a predicament

Word forms

predicaments plural

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Losing his wallet and phone on the same day left him in quite a _____.

Etymology

From Late Latin praedicamentum, \"that which is predicated or asserted,\" via Old French — the meaning later narrowed to describe a tricky spot to be in.

Origin: Late Latin

Related words

Rhymes for predicament

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Frequently asked questions

What does “predicament” mean?

The word “predicament” means a difficult, awkward, or unpleasant situation. In plain terms, a tough or tricky spot to be stuck in, usually with no easy way out.

How do you pronounce “predicament”?

“Predicament” is pronounced prih-DIH-kuh-muhnt (/pɹɪˈdɪkəmənt/ in IPA).

How do you use “predicament” in a sentence?

Here is “predicament” used in a sentence: “Losing his wallet and phone on the same day left him in quite a predicament.”

What is another word for “predicament”?

Words with a similar meaning to “predicament” include plight.

What part of speech is “predicament”?

“Predicament” is a noun.

Where does the word “predicament” come from?

The word “predicament” comes from Late Latin. From Late Latin praedicamentum, \"that which is predicated or asserted,\" via Old French — the meaning later narrowed to describe a tricky spot to be in.

Is “predicament” a common word?

“Predicament” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial