emergent

1 of 2

adjective

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

emergent

2 of 2

noun

1

: something emergent

2

a

: a tree that rises above the surrounding forest

b

: an emergent plant

Synonyms of emergent

Adjective

• urgent
• acute

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

Adjective

The gradually emergent upstairs-downstairs theme was explored with more sophistication on The White Lotus. —Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 16 June 2026

Instead of specialized psychiatric care, people are taken to an emergency department that does not have the capacity to effectively manage our community’s needs for emergent behavioral health services. —Cathryn Nacario, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 June 2026

Noun

The Paley Center for Media has refreshed its board of trustees with newly-emergent power players from the entertainment and tech business. —Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 28 May 2026

Living the Dream excels at emergent storytelling and humor. —Jason Bennett, Arkansas Online, 24 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Latin emergent-, emergens, present participle of emergere

First Known Use

Adjective

1593, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Noun

1620, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing emergent

• emergent evolution

Rhymes for emergent

• convergent
• detergent
• divergent
• insurgent
• resurgent
• urgent

Medical Definition

emergent

adjective

emer·​gent i-ˈmər-jənt 

: calling for prompt or urgent action

an emergent condition in a hemophiliac