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
Ball posted 15 points to go with four rebounds and a pair of assists in 21 minutes, but there wasn’t much of a need for him in crunch time versus Golden State because the Hornets couldn’t keep pace with the Warriors.
—
Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 18 Jan. 2026
Compared to the recent crunch time losses to Arkansas State and Southern Miss, Texas State played with more composure against Louisiana.
—Caleb Yum, Austin American Statesman, 15 Jan. 2026
James had 26 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds, but Antetokoumpo got the best of the top scorer in NBA history at crunch time.
—CBS News, 10 Jan. 2026
The guild nominees and the BAFTA longlista have narrowed the field to a degree, but with so many people in town and so little time to get them in front of Oscar voters, this is crunch time, and campaign consultants are wasting no time doing just that.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 9 Jan. 2026
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Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 18 Jan. 2026
Compared to the recent crunch time losses to Arkansas State and Southern Miss, Texas State played with more composure against Louisiana.
—Caleb Yum, Austin American Statesman, 15 Jan. 2026
James had 26 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds, but Antetokoumpo got the best of the top scorer in NBA history at crunch time.
—CBS News, 10 Jan. 2026
The guild nominees and the BAFTA longlista have narrowed the field to a degree, but with so many people in town and so little time to get them in front of Oscar voters, this is crunch time, and campaign consultants are wasting no time doing just that.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 9 Jan. 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 27 Jan. 2026.
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