emergency

noun

emer·​gen·​cy i-ˈmər-jən(t)-sē 

plural emergencies

often attributive

1

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

2

: an urgent need for assistance or relief

the mayor declared a state of emergency after the flood

Synonyms

• boiling point
• breaking point
• clutch
• conjuncture
• crisis
• crossroad(s)
• crunch
• crunch time
• Dunkirk
• exigency
• extremity
• flash point
• head
• juncture
• tinderbox
• zero hour

Choose the Right Synonym for emergency

juncture, exigency, emergency, contingency, pinch, strait (or straits) crisis mean a critical or crucial time or state of affairs.

juncture stresses the significant concurrence or convergence of events.

an important juncture in our country's history

exigency stresses the pressure of restrictions or urgency of demands created by a special situation.

provide for exigencies

emergency applies to a sudden unforeseen situation requiring prompt action to avoid disaster.

the presence of mind needed to deal with emergencies

contingency implies an emergency or exigency that is regarded as possible but uncertain of occurrence.

contingency plans

pinch implies urgency or pressure for action to a less intense degree than exigency or emergency.

come through in a pinch

strait, now commonly straits, applies to a troublesome situation from which escape is extremely difficult.

in dire straits

crisis applies to a juncture whose outcome will make a decisive difference.

a crisis of confidence

Examples of emergency in a Sentence

Her quick thinking in an emergency saved the baby's life.

an alert, quick-thinking girl who is good to have around in an emergency

Recent Examples on the Web

Advertisement The emergency began around 9:30 the night of the event, as the crowd of 50,000 swelled and fans became unable to move. —Eva Hartman, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2024

So if there is a medical emergency, a paramedic will have a better understanding on how to deal with the situation. —Julia Gomez, USA TODAY, 12 Apr. 2024

Congress has been odds over funding for Ukraine, leading Biden to rely on his authority to take weapons from U.S. stocks in an emergency to get assistance to the Eastern European nation. —Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 12 Apr. 2024

Two months after Kaspar’s death, an 18-year-old male patient, identified as J.A. in court documents, experienced a cardiac emergency in a scheduled surgery. —Nicole Lopez, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Apr. 2024

Shortly after the law went into effect, the Department of Justice sued Idaho and said the lack of an exception for a pregnant patient’s health violates EMTALA, which requires hospitals to treat patients experiencing medical emergencies regardless of their ability to pay for treatment. —Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 12 Apr. 2024

At a moment of medical emergency, families like mine shouldn’t have to choose between putting food on the table and paying rent. —Kolandro Bramble, Essence, 12 Apr. 2024

And after a 24-hour pack out with two buddies that included an emergency overnight stop with no water or food (besides sheep meat), Dahlke can attest that the only difference between a Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep ewe hunt and a ram hunt is the mount on his wall. —Christine Peterson, Outdoor Life, 11 Apr. 2024

To accomplish that, Bukele has overseen emergency measures that suspended individuals’ usual rights, such as allowing the government to conduct trials for hundreds of people at once rather than one at a time. —Laura Gersony, The Arizona Republic, 1 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1631, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing emergency

• emergency brake
• emergency contraception
• emergency medical technician
• emergency medicine
• emergency room
• emergency use authorization

Kids Definition

emergency

noun

emer·​gen·​cy i-ˈmər-jən-sē 

plural emergencies

1

: an unexpected situation that calls for immediate action

2

: an urgent need for help

a state of emergency

Medical Definition

emergency

noun

emer·​gen·​cy i-ˈmər-jən-sē 

plural emergencies

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

a

: a sudden bodily alteration (as a ruptured appendix or surgical shock) such as is likely to require immediate medical attention

b

: a usually distressing event or condition that can often be anticipated or prepared for but seldom exactly foreseen

Legal Definition

emergency

noun

emer·​gen·​cy

plural emergencies

1

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

2

: an urgent need for assistance or relief

a state of emergency