crunch time
noun
: a critical moment or period (as near the end of a game) when decisive action is needed
Examples of crunch time in a Sentence
The team had trained well, but at crunch time they just couldn't perform.
with only three minutes left in the game, it was definitely crunch time
Recent Examples on the Web
But Grayson Foley’s 205 yards from scrimmage with two touchdowns paired with a clutch showing in crunch time to help Scituate produce just enough for a repeat title.
—
Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 6 Dec. 2025
Leading scorer Reese Dixon-Waters had a goose egg for the game’s first 33 minutes before making a big 3-pointer and two clutch layups in crunch time.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Dec. 2025
Expect a tight, competitive game as the outcome may come down to execution in crunch time, turnovers, and which team controls the pace and tempo.
—Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2025
That day, like Saturday, the Cherry Creek defense bowed up in crunch time.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 29 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for crunch time
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Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 6 Dec. 2025
Leading scorer Reese Dixon-Waters had a goose egg for the game’s first 33 minutes before making a big 3-pointer and two clutch layups in crunch time.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Dec. 2025
Expect a tight, competitive game as the outcome may come down to execution in crunch time, turnovers, and which team controls the pace and tempo.
—Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2025
That day, like Saturday, the Cherry Creek defense bowed up in crunch time.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 29 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for crunch time
Cite this Entry
“Crunch time.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crunch%20time. Accessed 18 Dec. 2025.
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