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
Instead, Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards, Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Denver’s Jamal Murray were the final three in the running for the league’s crunch time award.
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Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 20 Apr. 2026
In crunch times, our duties overlap.
—Jeanne Phillips, Mercury News, 18 Apr. 2026
The distinction, as Green told The Athletic earlier this week, involves which guys stand up at crunch time – the postseason, of course, being the crunchiest of crunch time – and which guys don’t.
—Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 16 Apr. 2026
In crunch time, Leavitt finds ways to make plays.
—Sam Khan Jr, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for crunch time
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Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 20 Apr. 2026
In crunch times, our duties overlap.
—Jeanne Phillips, Mercury News, 18 Apr. 2026
The distinction, as Green told The Athletic earlier this week, involves which guys stand up at crunch time – the postseason, of course, being the crunchiest of crunch time – and which guys don’t.
—Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 16 Apr. 2026
In crunch time, Leavitt finds ways to make plays.
—Sam Khan Jr, New York Times, 2 Apr. 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 22 Apr. 2026.
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