emergence

American  

[ih-mur-juhns] / ɪˈmɜr dʒəns /

noun

• emergences
  plural

1. the act or process of emerging.

2. an outgrowth, as a prickle, on the surface of a plant.

3. Evolution. the appearance of new properties or species in the course of development or evolution.

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emergence British  

/ ɪˈmɜːdʒəns /

noun

1. the act or process of emerging

2. an outgrowth, such as a prickle, that contains no vascular tissue and does not develop into stem, leaf, etc

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonemergence
  noun
• reemergence
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• emergences
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of emergence

First recorded in 1640–50; from French, from Medieval Latin; see emergency

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Explanation

An emergence is when something comes into view — like the emergence of a seedling in a garden or the famous emergence of Punxsutawney Phil on Groundhog Day — which is supposed to show how soon spring will "emerge." Emergence is a noun that goes back to the Latin root emergere, meaning "bring to light," and it came into English in the 17th century. Just as something comes to light or shows up where there was darkness or nothing before, an emergence happens — like new technologies such as the emergence of e-readers. Pronouncing emergence is the same as pronouncing emergency but without the long e sound at the end.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

emergence emergences

Perhaps, if you want to be really cynical about it, you could boil down all of human nature and biology and the emergence of consciousness into “a lot of math” as well.

From Salon ● Oct. 12, 2026

This trend nurtured the emergence of PWCs with two or more seats, high-capacity gas tanks and extra cargo capacity.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 10, 2026

Alongside the emergence of Yalcouye and Osman has been the rise of Charalampos Kostoulas, who was signed from Olympiakos for £30m in the summer of 2025, just after his 18th birthday.

From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026

The new range places the possible emergence of animals between 800 and 700 million years ago.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 7, 2026

Nor had historians translated that term tomean the emergence of a more authentically democratic brand of politics, a translation that Jefferson would have understood dimly, if at all.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis

Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies said it was "a landmark step forward for Wales" with the climate and nature emergences "intensifying around us".

From BBC ● Feb. 25, 2026

Every time periodical cicadas arrive in the United States, they bring a sense of wonder with them — their long intervals underground and their perfectly timed mass emergences are fascinating, even to experts.

From Seattle Times ● May 13, 2024

Yet, the 2024 emergences are not being overhyped, say scientists.

From Slate ● Apr. 14, 2024

But scientists are warning that early cicada emergences could become more frequent as climate change ushers in earlier springs and longer periods of warmth.

From National Geographic ● Sep. 5, 2023

But,'—he paused a moment—'I have mingled but little with this people; I know scarcely any; I am ignorant of what they require of those who belong to their number in such emergences.

From Aurelian or, Rome in the Third Century by William Ware

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Related Words

• development
• evolution

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