predicament
gb/pɹɪdˈɪkəmənt/ us/pɹɪdˈɪkəmənt/
B2
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
state
1
A difficult situation to escape
a bad situation that is hard to fix
Usage pattern:
in a predicament; [someone] is in a predicament; a predicament about/over [something]
Common mistake:
Often confused with dilemma; a dilemma focuses on choosing between options, while a predicament is the difficult situation itself.
Synonyms
plight (Often suggests a serious or sympathetic difficult situation.)
|
mess (More informal and can imply confusion or disorder.)
|
tight spot (Informal; emphasizes being stuck with limited options.)
|
difficult situation (More general and less vivid.)
Antonyms
solution (The resolution of the problem rather than the problem situation.)
|
ease (A state of comfort and lack of difficulty.)
Collocations
be in a predicament
|find yourself in a predicament
|get into a predicament
|a serious predicament
|a difficult predicament
|a tricky predicament
|an awkward predicament
|a legal predicament
|a financial predicament
|escape a predicament
Themes
daily_life
|problems
|emotions
Examples
- When the flight was canceled, we were in a predicament with no hotel rooms available.
- He realized too late that lying had put him in a predicament he couldn’t talk his way out of.
- The company’s sudden cash shortage left it in a serious predicament.
Learner examples
- I am in a predicament and need help.
- She got into a predicament at work.
Noun
B2
state
2
An embarrassing awkward situation
an awkward or embarrassing situation
Usage pattern:
an awkward/embarrassing predicament; put [someone] in a predicament
Common mistake:
Don’t use it for a simple minor inconvenience (e.g., being slightly late) unless you are exaggerating for effect.
Synonyms
awkward situation (More neutral; doesn’t always imply being stuck.)
|
embarrassment (Focuses on the feeling rather than the situation.)
|
bind (Often implies being trapped by obligations or constraints.)
Antonyms
comfort (A relaxed state with no awkwardness or pressure.)
|
confidence (A feeling of assurance rather than embarrassment.)
Collocations
an awkward predicament
|an embarrassing predicament
|a humiliating predicament
|a personal predicament
|put someone in a predicament
|leave someone in a predicament
|avoid a predicament
|a predicament of your own making
Themes
social
|emotions
|daily_life
Examples
- I waved back before realizing she wasn’t waving at me, which put me in an awkward predicament.
- He forgot her name mid-introduction and found himself in a humiliating predicament.
- A poorly worded email left her in a predicament with both teams.
Learner examples
- That question put me in a difficult predicament.
- He was in an embarrassing predicament.
Grammar
Dictionary form
predicament
IPA
GB/pɹɪdˈɪkəmənt/
US/pɹɪdˈɪkəmənt/
Syllables & stress
pre - dic - a - ment (4 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (dic)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: predicament
- Plural: predicaments
Word family
Forms
predicaments
noun
Expressions
a bit of a predicament
1/ə bˈɪt əv ə pɹɪdˈɪkəmənt/
fixed phrase
informal
a small but real problem
a small (or joked-about) bad situation
Examples
- I’m in a bit of a predicament—I promised to be in two places at once.
- We’re in a bit of a predicament since the printer died right before the deadline.
find yourself in a predicament
1/fˈaɪnd jʊɹsˈɛlf ˈɪn ə pɹɪdˈɪkəmənt/
fixed phrase
suddenly be in trouble
to suddenly be in a bad situation
Examples
- I found myself in a predicament when my card was declined at the counter.
- After one wrong turn, we found ourselves in a predicament miles from the nearest town.
get into a predicament
1/ɡˈɛt ˈɪntu ə pɹɪdˈɪkəmənt/
fixed phrase
end up in trouble
to get into a bad situation
Examples
- He got into a predicament by agreeing to help both sides.
- If you lend money to friends, you can easily get into a predicament.
get someone out of a predicament
1/ɡˈɛt sˈʌmwˌʌn ˈaʊt əv ə pɹɪdˈɪkəmənt/
fixed phrase
help someone escape trouble
to help someone out of trouble
Examples
- Her colleague stepped in to get her out of a predicament with the client.
- Thanks for getting me out of that predicament—I owe you one.
in a predicament
1/ˈɪn ə pɹɪdˈɪkəmənt/
fixed phrase
being in a difficult situation
in a bad situation
Examples
- I’m in a predicament because I lost my wallet and my phone.
- They were in a predicament when the key snapped in the lock.