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
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.
But it drove home the unlikely phenomenon of Rosalía's emergence as a global pop star.
From BBC • May 6, 2026
How climate change affects the emergence and strength of El Ninos is still not well understood.
From Barron's • May 5, 2026
The emergence of electric vehicles, hybrids and more fuel-efficient gasoline-powered vehicles is part of the reason, even as those fuel efficiencies are mostly reaped by the well-heeled Americans who can afford the newer cars.
From MarketWatch • May 5, 2026
"By showing how color variants that have coexisted for millions of years are wiped out, we now better understand how the emergence of new traits changes competition in nature," concludes Tobias Uller.
From Science Daily • Apr. 25, 2026
At such times the more exuberant among them called out in an excited manner on our emergence round some corner of expectancy, “Here they come!”
From "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens
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.
