emergency

emer·gen·cy

noun, often attributive \i-ˈmər-jənt-sē\

plural emer·gen·cies

Definition of EMERGENCY

1

: an unforeseen combination of circumstances or the resulting state that calls for immediate action

2

: an urgent need for assistance or relief <the governor declared a state of emergency after the flood>

Examples of EMERGENCY

1. Her quick thinking in an emergency saved the baby's life.
2. <an alert, quick-thinking girl who is good to have around in an emergency>

First Known Use of EMERGENCY

circa 1631

Related to EMERGENCY

Synonyms: boiling point, breaking point, clutch, conjuncture, crisis, crossroad(s), crunch, crunch time, Dunkirk, exigency, extremity, flash point, head, juncture, tinderbox, zero hour, moment of truth, point of no return

Related Words: contingency, possibility; climax, turning point; happening, landmark, milestone; condition, pass, situation, strait; deadlock, impasse, stalemate; corner, fix, hole, hot water, jam, last ditch, pinch, predicament, scrape, spot; eleventh hour, last minute

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See Synonym Discussion at juncture