emer·gent
i-ˈmər-jənt 
1
a
: arising unexpectedly
b
: calling for prompt action : urgent
emergent danger
2
a
: rising out of or as if out of a fluid
emergent coastal islands
b
: rooted in shallow water and having most of its vegetative growth above water
an emergent plant
3
: arising as a natural or logical consequence
4
: newly formed or prominent
emergent nations
1
: something emergent
2
a
: a tree that rises above the surrounding forest
b
: an emergent plant
Examples of emergent in a Sentence
Adjective
since the problem was not seen as emergent, implementation of the expensive solution for it was continually put off
Recent Examples on the Web
Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 24 Feb. 2025
This adds to an emergent trend, as the seven worst-performing Marvel films in their second weeks of release all came out after Avengers: Endgame.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 23 Feb. 2025
Paul Grein, Billboard, 20 Feb. 2025
Nearly five years after the global COVID-19 shutdowns began, health care leaders continue to grapple with all manner of emergent situations and challenges—both large scale and small, the anticipated and the unforeseen.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 14 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for emergent
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Adjective
The main source of the hoopla is the emergent Chinese startup DeepSeek, which rattled the Club stock late last month with claims of more efficient AI models.
—Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 24 Feb. 2025
This adds to an emergent trend, as the seven worst-performing Marvel films in their second weeks of release all came out after Avengers: Endgame.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 23 Feb. 2025
Noun
The Rising Tide Award celebrates emergent artists of any age who inspire others by embodying the values and ideals of the folk community through their creative work, community role, and public voice.
—Paul Grein, Billboard, 20 Feb. 2025
Nearly five years after the global COVID-19 shutdowns began, health care leaders continue to grapple with all manner of emergent situations and challenges—both large scale and small, the anticipated and the unforeseen.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 14 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for emergent
Cite this Entry
“Emergent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/emergent. Accessed 1 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
emergent
adjective
emer·gent
i-ˈmər-jənt
: calling for prompt or urgent action
an emergent condition in a hemophiliac
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