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Situate: meaning, definitions and examples

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situate

 

[ ˈsɪtjʊeɪt ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

in geography

To determine the exact location of something or someone; to place in a particular position or context.

Synonyms

locate, place, position.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
situate

Similar to 'situate', used in formal or technical descriptions about physical placement.

  • The ancient ruins are situated on a hill.
  • They chose to situate the monument in the town square.
locate

Often used when talking about finding or discovering the position of something. Can be both formal and informal.

  • Can you locate the nearest post office?
  • The responsible authorities are trying to locate the source of the problem.
position

Often used in more formal contexts or when talking about the specific arrangement or orientation of something.

  • Make sure to position the camera correctly.
  • The engineer positioned the machinery for optimal performance.
place

Commonly used in everyday language to describe putting something in a particular position.

  • Please place the book on the table.
  • She carefully placed the vase on the shelf.

Examples of usage

  • The map helped us situate the town in relation to the river.
  • It is important to situate the new building near public transportation.
Context #2 | Verb

in academic writing

To provide background information or context for a particular topic or issue.

Synonyms

contextualize, place in context, situate within.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
situate

Use when describing the physical or figurative positioning of someone or something within a certain environment or setting.

  • The school is situated at the top of the hill
  • The novel is situated in 19th-century England
contextualize

Use when explaining or analyzing something by placing it in the surrounding system of circumstances or facts. Often used in academic or analytical discussions.

  • To better understand the policy, we need to contextualize it within the historical events of the time
  • The professor asked us to contextualize the text within the author's broader work
situate within

Use when emphasizing the specific circumstances, framework, or scenario within which something is placed. Similar to 'situate', but implies a more detailed or narrow setting.

  • The discussion needs to be situated within the ongoing debate about climate change
  • This phenomenon should be situated within the broader context of globalization
place in context

Use when trying to make something clearer or more understandable by showing its relationship to other things or showing how it fits in.

  • To appreciate the artist’s work, we must place it in context with the social movements of the period
  • Her comments are harsh until you place them in context with the criticisms she was responding to

Examples of usage

  • The author makes sure to situate her argument within the larger historical context.
  • The study aims to situate the findings within existing literature.

Translations

Translations of the word "situate" in other languages:

🇵🇹 situar

🇮🇳 स्थित करना

🇩🇪 platzieren

🇮🇩 menempatkan

🇺🇦 розташувати

🇵🇱 usytuować

🇯🇵 配置する（はいちする）

🇫🇷 situer

🇪🇸 situar

🇹🇷 yerleştirmek

🇰🇷 위치시키다

🇸🇦 وضع

🇨🇿 umístit

🇸🇰 umiestniť

🇨🇳 定位 (dìngwèi)

🇸🇮 postaviti

🇮🇸 staðsetja

🇰🇿 орналастыру

🇬🇪 განთავსება

🇦🇿 yerləşdirmək

🇲🇽 situar

Etymology

The word "situate" comes from the Latin word "situare", which means "to place". It entered the English language in the late 16th century. Over time, the meaning of the word has evolved to encompass both physical and conceptual placement.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranked #11,054, this word falls into high-advanced vocabulary. It appears less frequently but is valuable for expressing precise meanings in specific contexts.