emerge

verb

i-ˈmərj 

emerged; emerging

intransitive verb

1

: to become manifest : become known

new problems emerged

2

: to rise from or as if from an enveloping fluid : come out into view

a diver emerging from the water

3

: to rise from an obscure or inferior position or condition

someone must emerge as a leader

4

: to come into being through evolution

Synonyms of emerge

• arise
• surface
• appear
• happen
• occur

Examples of emerge in a Sentence

The facts emerged after a lengthy investigation.

Several possible candidates have emerged.

She has emerged as a leading contender in the field.

His war record has emerged as a key issue in the election.

when land first emerged from the sea

The cat emerged from its hiding place behind the couch.

animals emerging from a long period of inactivity

Recent Examples on the Web

When censorship finally began to ease in the 1990s, Korean filmmakers emerged with a profound understanding of cinematic storytelling. —Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026

Before Papaya, Guez ran businesses helping companies move and employ workers in emerging markets. —Geri Stengel, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026

Bakshi says that thus far participants in the Phase 2 trial, taking place in New Zealand, have shown steady sperm decline and that no safety issues have emerged. —Ana Castelain, Bloomberg, 28 Jan. 2026

Evidence of the influence of AI super PACS like LTF has already emerged. —Trevor Laurence Jockims, CNBC, 28 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin emergere, from e- + mergere to plunge — more at merge

First Known Use

1640, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing emerge

• emerge the victor
• emerge victorious
• re-emerge

Rhymes for emerge

• converge
• diverge
• submerge
• upsurge
• demiurge
• dirge
• merge
• purge
• scourge
• serge
• splurge
• spurge

Kids Definition

emerge

verb

i-ˈmərj 

emerged; emerging

1

: to become known or apparent

the facts emerged

2

: to rise from or as if from a fluid : come out into view