scenario
gb/sɪnˈɑɹioʊ/ us/sɪnˈɑɹioʊ/
B2
English
~ 6200
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
entity
1
imagined or possible situation
A possible situation that you imagine and talk about, especially when you plan or guess what could happen.
Usage pattern:
a [adjective] scenario; in this/that scenario, [clause]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use 'scenario' only for movies or stories and do not use it for general possible situations (e.g., planning, risk). They may also confuse it with 'scene' or 'scenery'; 'scenario' is usually about a whole possible situation or sequence of events, not just a visual view.
Synonyms
situation (More general; does not always imply something imagined or hypothetical the way 'scenario' often does.)
|
possibility (Focuses on the fact that something can happen, while 'scenario' usually includes more detail about how it might happen.)
Antonyms
certainty (A certainty is something sure to happen, while a scenario is one of several possible outcomes.)
Collocations
worst-case scenario
|best-case scenario
|likely scenario
|realistic scenario
|in this scenario
|in that scenario
Themes
thinking
|planning
|risk
|daily life
|communication
|education
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- In the worst-case scenario, the company could go bankrupt within a year.
- One possible scenario is that the project gets delayed but still stays within budget.
- Analysts outlined several scenarios for how the election results might affect the economy.
- Let me give you a simple scenario to show how this new policy would work.
- In this scenario, interest rates rise quickly and housing prices fall.
Learner examples
- In the best-case scenario, we finish the work today.
- Think about a scenario where you lose your phone.
- The teacher gave us a scenario and asked us what we would do.
- We talked about different scenarios for our holiday plans.
- In that scenario, I would move to another city.
Noun
technical
C1
entity
2
planned training or test situation
A detailed, made-up situation used to train people, test systems, or plan what to do if something happens.
Usage pattern:
a [type] scenario for [training/test/planning]
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize that 'scenario' in technical or training contexts usually implies a structured exercise or test, not just any random example. They might say 'training situation' or 'training story' instead; 'training scenario' is the more natural collocation.
Synonyms
simulation (Stresses that the situation is being copied or acted out, often with computers or role-play.)
|
case study (Usually a written description used for discussion or analysis, while a 'scenario' is often more active or used in practice exercises.)
Antonyms
real-life situation (Refers to an actual event, as opposed to a planned or imaginary training or test scenario.)
Collocations
training scenario
|test scenario
|disaster scenario
|evacuation scenario
|role-play scenario
|simulation scenario
Themes
business
|education
|technology
|safety
|work
|science
Examples
- The firefighters practiced a nighttime rescue scenario in the old warehouse.
- We ran several cyberattack scenarios to check how secure the network really is.
- During the workshop, participants worked through a crisis scenario step by step.
- The training program includes realistic customer-service scenarios based on real complaints.
- Engineers tested the new software under different failure scenarios before the launch.
Learner examples
- The police used a fake robbery scenario to train new officers.
- Students acted out a hospital scenario in the classroom.
- We tested the app in many problem scenarios.
- The company planned an earthquake scenario to see how people would react.
- In this training scenario, a customer is very angry.
Noun
technical
C1
entity
3
outline or script for film/play
A written plan that shows the main scenes and actions of a film or play, like an early form of a script.
Usage pattern:
write a scenario for [a film/play]; a scenario by [someone]
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse this sense and say 'scenario' when 'script' or 'screenplay' is more natural in modern English. In everyday film talk, 'script' and 'screenplay' are more common; 'scenario' is less frequent and can sound technical or old-fashioned.
Synonyms
screenplay (The standard term for a full movie script; a 'scenario' may be shorter or more like an outline.)
|
script (General word for written dialogue and directions; 'scenario' can be a more structural, planning version.)
Antonyms
improvisation (Improvisation has no written plan, while a scenario is a written outline of what should happen.)
Collocations
film scenario
|original scenario
|adapted scenario
|scenario writer
|write the scenario
|scenario by [name]
Themes
art
|media
|entertainment
|arts_entertainment
|communication
|education
Examples
- The film won several awards, including one for best original scenario.
- She was hired to develop a scenario for a new historical drama.
- The director changed the ending of the scenario just before shooting began.
- His job is to write scenarios that can later be turned into full scripts.
- The scenario carefully balances comedy with moments of real tension.
Learner examples
- He wrote the scenario for the movie.
- The director did not like the first scenario.
- They are working on a new scenario for the TV show.
- The scenario tells the main story of the film.
- She wants to be a scenario writer one day.
Grammar
Expressions
best-case scenario
1/bˈɛst kˈeɪs sɪnˈɑɹioʊ/
fixed phrase
most positive possible situation
The most good result that could happen in a situation, if everything goes as well as possible.
Examples
- In the best-case scenario, we finish the project two weeks early.
- Even in the best-case scenario, sales will only grow slowly next year.
in the worst-case scenario
1/ˈɪn ðə wˈɚst kˈeɪs sɪnˈɑɹioʊ/
fixed phrase
if the very worst happens
Used before saying what will happen if things go as badly as possible.
Examples
- In the worst-case scenario, we may have to close two of our stores.
- In the worst-case scenario, you will need to repeat the exam next year.
worst-case scenario
1/wˈɚst kˈeɪs sɪnˈɑɹioʊ/
fixed phrase
most serious possible situation
The most bad result that could happen in a situation, if everything goes wrong.
Examples
- In the worst-case scenario, the bridge could collapse during a storm.
- We should save some extra money in case the worst-case scenario actually happens.