emergent

adjective

emer·gent | \i-ˈmər-jənt

Definition of emergent

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : arising unexpectedly

b : calling for prompt action : urgent emergent danger

2a : 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

noun

Definition of emergent (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : something emergent

2a : a tree that rises above the surrounding forest

b : an emergent plant

Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about emergent

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Examples of emergent in a Sentence

Adjective

since it was not seen as an emergent problem, it was continually put off

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

Their utility suggested a sense of busyness and ambition well suited to a new age in which emergent technologies were changing everything. — Ginia Bellafante, New York Times, "The High Price of Being Kate Spade," 7 June 2018 Which means that for most Californians the race for governor is just starting, as the first widely broadcast commercials — emergent like the first shoots of spring, but much less lovely — begin to fill the airwaves. — Mark Z. Barabak, latimes.com, "Been ignoring the race for California governor? That's OK, in some ways it's just starting," 26 Apr. 2018 But in taking that stance for his own support base, AMLO might find a historic opportunity: building bridges with Mexico’s southern neighbors, and perhaps also emergent powers such as China. — Time, "Mexico's New President AMLO and Donald Trump Have Promised Mutual 'Respect.' How Long Can That Last?," 3 July 2018 In the early 1990s, horticultural researchers at Iowa State University discovered the pre-emergent capability of this product of the corn wet-milling process, and the university began to obtain patents on CGM. — Margaret Lauterbach, idahostatesman, "Corn processing byproduct halts crabgrass, and adds nutrients to the soil | Idaho Statesman," 28 Feb. 2018 Regular legislative review: The Digital Millennium Copyright Act stipulated that the Library of Congress revisit the law’s exceptions every two years, to account for changing technologies and emergent needs. — Tarleton Gillespie, WIRED, "How Social Networks Set the Limits of What We Can Say Online," 26 June 2018 If the weeds grow from seeds, almost all pre-emergent products are labeled for use on liriope. — Walter Reeves, ajc, "Orchid needs correct light to bloom," 20 June 2018 When quizzed, British politicians have frequently invoked notions of new and emergent digital technologies, which will somehow permit business as usual in Brexit’s brave new world. — Georgina Voss, The Atlantic, "Brexit Could Cripple Britain’s Ports," 20 June 2018 The game’s sandbox of emergent stories is built on the danger of being cornered by zombies in the dark and the scarcity of resources that forces you into that situation. — Steven Strom, Ars Technica, "State of Decay 2 review: Shambling toward nothing," 22 May 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

By then the pre-emergent will be gone from the soil. — Neil Sperry, San Antonio Express-News, "No garden invader is more difficult to eliminate than bamboo," 15 June 2018 Apply a pre-emergent, like Preen, around the bushes to keep down the weeds until mulch is reapplied in late May. Hot temperatures will require a regular watering program and Kentucky rain is never enough. — Janet Miller, The Courier-Journal, "Roses are easy - if done right. Here are foolproof tips to follow for your Kentucky garden," 23 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'emergent.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.