emergence
Americannoun
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emergences
plural
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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
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
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.
See Examples For:
That must be a relief for longtime DC Comics fans, given its emergence on the heels of the lukewarm critical and audience reception for “Supergirl.”
From Salon ● Aug. 14, 2026
Liverpool's first pre-season under new boss Andoni Iraola has not been without its challenges - but one reason for optimism is the emergence of 18-year-old defender Ifeanyi Ndukwe.
From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026
He basically started with his emergence from the birth canal.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2026
However, they contend that the emergence of satellite services and potential regulatory moves could challenge this.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026
Were they all really bounded by a single day, by one period of unbroken wakefulness, from the innocent rehearsals of her play to the emergence of the giant from the mist?
From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan
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
Why wouldn’t we add cicada emergences to the bucket list?
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
Sometimes they came up for brief emergences, for gasping seconds in the sunshine on the surface, and then were under again, dragged under by him, rolled and tumbled under by the curling breakers.
From On the Makaloa Mat by Jack London
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.
