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crunch time
noun
: a critical moment or period (as near the end of a game) when decisive action is needed
Synonyms
Examples of crunch time in a Sentence
The team had trained well, but at crunch time they just couldn't perform.
with only three minutes left in the game, it was definitely crunch time
Recent Examples on the Web
Boston made just one shot over the final 4:51 of the game – a Tatum dunk with 1:41 to play – but missed their other 10 shots in crunch time.
—Boston Herald, 21 Dec. 2024
Come crunch time in the face-to-face meeting, Bevilaqua shockingly pulls out the piece and whacks Chickie.
—Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, 17 Nov. 2024
And similar to this game, a rookie quarterback’s great drive in crunch time was all for naught.
—Scott Thompson, Fox News, 17 Nov. 2024
Ironically, there was another offensive rebound that swung the game against the Huskies in crunch time.
—Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 26 Nov. 2024
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Word History
First Known Use
1933, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near crunch time
Cite this Entry
“Crunch time.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crunch%20time. Accessed 8 Jan. 2025.
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