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

Adjective

• acute
• burning
• clamant
• compelling
• critical
• crying
• dire
• exigent
• imperative
• imperious
• importunate
• instant
• necessitous
• pressing
• urgent

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

Somehow, consciousness is an emergent property of the brain. —Gabriel A. Silva, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025

Trump has nominated Catholics to top posts, including from an emergent right wing of the church that favors traditionalism and rejects reforms championed by Francis to make the church more inclusive. —Lauren Villagran, USA Today, 22 Apr. 2025

Noun

This is a core insight of systems thinking: systems, by definition, have emergent properties that no one within the system designs or even anticipates. —Mary Johnstone-Louis, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025

Biofilms have emergent properties: traits that appear only when a system of individual items interacts. —Carrie Arnold, Quanta Magazine, 21 Apr. 2025

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 1a

Noun

1620, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing emergent

• emergent evolution

Rhymes for emergent

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

Medical Definition

emergent

adjective

emer·​gent i-ˈmər-jənt 

: calling for prompt or urgent action

an emergent condition in a hemophiliac