plight1 nounplight2 verb
plightplight1 /plaɪt/ ●○○ noun [usually singular] 
WORD ORIGINplight
Origin:
1300-1400 Anglo-French plit, from Latin plictus; ➔ PLAITEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- A new report exposes the plight of skilled nurses, who work long hours for very low rates of pay.
- His chief concern is the plight of kids growing up in the ghettoes.
- Roy was sympathetic to her plight and offered to help her look for her daughter.
- the plight of homeless children
- The film deals with the nomadic desert people of the Sahel, whose plight has worsened in the recent years of drought.
- Concern about the plight of young intellectuals was mixed with promises of improvements.
- He embraced their plight as best he could.
- Her husband simply dismissed her plight and carried on with his plan to go riding.
- It parks, waits and taunts our plight.
- The Republican contender said he never understood the plight of the handicapped before he was injured.
- There can be no real understanding of the plight of either rural or urban poor.
- Through their various plights, the drama questions a world where feminine ideals regularly defy rational explanation.
Longman Language Activatoryour personal situation
the situation you are in, for example how much money you earn, where you live, whether you are married or have children etc: · For most refugees, the situation is pretty hopeless.· In your situation, I would have done exactly the same thing.· The proper investment balance depends on each investor's situation.
your personal situation, for example how much money you earn, where you live, whether you are married or have children etc - used especially in official contexts: · The organization provides aid to people in desperate circumstances.· Please contact your Social Security office if there is any change in your circumstances.
the situation that someone is in, especially a difficult or embarrassing situation that restricts what they can do: · In her position, I'm not sure what I'd do.the position of somebody: · Few rich people can really appreciate the position of the single mother living on welfare.put somebody in an awkward/difficult/embarrassing etc position: · Ed asked me to lie for him to help save his job, which put me in a very awkward position.
a particular person's or group's situation - use this especially to compare one situation with others to show how they are similar or different: in somebody's case: · In my case, when I started teaching I enjoyed it right away.in the case of: · Doctors have often achieved amazing results, as in the case of 11-year-old Jason.case-by-case (=considering each person's situation separately): · 72-hour airport visas can be extended, but decisions are made on a case-by-case basis.
especially written a very difficult, unpleasant, or dangerous situation that is difficult to escape from: · Roy was sympathetic to her plight and offered to help her look for her daughter.the plight of: · His chief concern is the plight of kids growing up in the ghettoes.
something painful or unpleasant that you suffer very unpleasant, painful, or upsetting conditions - use this especially about a situation that affects a lot of people: · The earthquake has caused massive damage and a great deal of human suffering.· Reporters described the suffering they had seen in the war zone.
when your life is difficult and uncomfortable, especially because you are very poor: · During the war we faced many hardships.· Rising food prices caused great hardship for most of the population.· Many students suffer financial hardship.
a difficult and unpleasant situation, in which people are suffering a lot and that makes you feel great sympathy for them: · The film deals with the nomadic desert people of the Sahel, whose plight has worsened in the recent years of drought.· A new report exposes the plight of skilled nurses, who work long hours for very low rates of pay.
a very sad, difficult, and unpleasant situation in which people suffer a lot, especially over a long time: · In the book she describes the agony of watching her child die.· With renewed fighting for control of the capital, there seems to be no end to the region's agony.
severe mental suffering, often continuing for a long time: · She suffered years of private torment over her decision to have her children adopted.· It's difficult for us to understand the torment the hostages are going through.
written a situation in which you have continuing difficulties that seem to be caused by bad luck: · They have suffered more than their fair share of adversity and managed to overcome it every time.in the face of adversity (=when experiencing adversity): · She somehow manages to keep laughing in the face of adversity.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY
the desperate plight of the flood victims the country’s economic plightCOLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSVERB
a very bad situation that someone is inplight of the desperate plight of the flood victims the country’s economic plight· The more he describes the plight of public services, the more voters are reminded of the need for more public money.
· There was little Sanson could do to ease the King's plight other than expedite the procedure.· Or he could introduce an exchange rate policy to ease the plight of manufacturing companies.
· First introduced in 1989, Adopt-a-Pet aims to highlight the plight of abandoned animals and encourage more responsible pet ownership.· Elderly people isolated A new report has highlighted the isolated plight of elderly people in residential care who have a hearing loss.· There are better ways to highlight the plight of the homeless.
· Yet people ignore the plight of, say, the several species of bat which are on the edge of extinction.· But he ignores the plight of pensioners.
the desperate plight of the flood victims the country’s economic plightplight1 nounplight2 verb
plightplight2 verb plight your troth old use to promise someone that you will marry them