emergence
Americannoun
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the act or process of emerging.
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an outgrowth, as a prickle, on the surface of a plant.
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Evolution. the appearance of new properties or species in the course of development or evolution.
noun
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the act or process of emerging
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an outgrowth, such as a prickle, that contains no vascular tissue and does not develop into stem, leaf, etc
Other Word Forms
- nonemergence noun
- reemergence noun
Etymology
Origin of emergence
First recorded in 1640–50; from French, from Medieval Latin; see emergency
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.
Vocabulary lists containing emergence
Evolutionary Biology - Adaptation
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Content Summary 4.7: Early Modern Western Society and Culture
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Content Summary 1.3: Origins of Complex Urban Societies in the Ancient World
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
SYDNEY—-New Zealand’s inflation rate came in higher than expected in the first quarter, underscoring concerns about the emergence of price pressures across the economy just as the Middle East energy shock was beginning to develop.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 20, 2026
He added that the findings suggest wildlife trade should be considered one of the major drivers of disease emergence, alongside deforestation, agriculture and climate change.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2026
China's emergence this century as an economic and military superpower has also seen its space capabilities accelerate rapidly, and it now has a stated aim of landing an astronaut on the Moon by around 2030.
From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026
Sentiment has been shaken by the emergence of improving artificial intelligence models.
From Barron's • Mar. 28, 2026
This chapter is about the birth of the modern in two senses: first, there is the emergence of a new sense of the word ‘modern’ in the 1660s to refer to post-Galilean science.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
