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
In crunch time, Leavitt finds ways to make plays.
—
Sam Khan Jr, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2026
The Blue Devils were up 15 at half and cruising over UConn, but as crunch time came, the wheels started to fall off for the top team in the country.
—Tyler Erzberger, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2026
Redick’s team, which had seen a 13-point lead evaporate, again proved its mettle in crunch time.
—Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 19 Mar. 2026
Vassell came up big in crunch time The sixth-year forward's jumper with four minutes left coming out of a timeout with the Spurs nursing a six-point league was perhaps the biggest bucket of the game.
—Tom Orsborn, San Antonio Express-News, 17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for crunch time
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Sam Khan Jr, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2026
The Blue Devils were up 15 at half and cruising over UConn, but as crunch time came, the wheels started to fall off for the top team in the country.
—Tyler Erzberger, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2026
Redick’s team, which had seen a 13-point lead evaporate, again proved its mettle in crunch time.
—Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 19 Mar. 2026
Vassell came up big in crunch time The sixth-year forward's jumper with four minutes left coming out of a timeout with the Spurs nursing a six-point league was perhaps the biggest bucket of the game.
—Tom Orsborn, San Antonio Express-News, 17 Mar. 2026
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 8 Apr. 2026.
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