emergence

noun

emer·​gence i-ˈmər-jən(t)s 

1

: the act or an instance of emerging

2

: any of various superficial outgrowths of plant tissue usually formed from both epidermis and immediately underlying tissues

3

: penetration of the soil surface by a newly germinated plant

Examples of emergence in a Sentence

the emergence of the Internet as an important means of communication

the economy's emergence from a recession

Recent Examples on the Web

This was already noticed long before the emergence of AI chatbots with the power to converse. — Pascal Vrticka, Scientific American, 4 Oct. 2026

On social media and online forums, some French users call the emergence of digital tipping a scam that benefits restaurants and commission-earning payment platforms more than servers. — CNN Money, 4 Oct. 2026

Outside of the emergence of Ashley, nothing has gone right for TCU offensively this year. — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Oct. 2026

For scientists, the harder question has been how oxygen stayed abundant for millions of years afterward — long enough, as ancient rocks suggest, to set the stage for the emergence of increasingly complex life. — Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 3 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1642, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing emergence

• re-emergence

Rhymes for emergence

• convergence
• divergence
• resurgence
• submergence
• postemergence
• preemergence
• reemergence
• vergence

Kids Definition

emergence

noun

emer·​gence i-ˈmər-jən(t)s 

: the act or an instance of emerging

Medical Definition

emergence

noun

emer·​gence i-ˈmər-jən(t)s 

: a recovering of consciousness (as from anesthesia)