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
Austin Reaves, one of the Lakers’ best shooters, missed two earlier in crunch time.
—
Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 22 Nov. 2024
But with Nadal serving at 1-2 and facing three break points at 0-40, the Spaniard reverted once more to the guy who knows a bit about what to do at crunch time on this court.
—Matthew Futterman, The Athletic, 28 July 2024
Good vibes abound: 3 Yankees takeaways Tennessee and Vanderbilt baseball facing different questions in crunch time
10 Rangers road trip observations: Panarin line struggles in Game 4, special teams battle
Caitlin Clark for WNBA MVP?
—New York Times, 13 May 2024
Let the season breathe more and understand that in crunch time — at the end of halves and games — Williams has been pretty good.
—Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune, 30 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for crunch time 
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Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 22 Nov. 2024
But with Nadal serving at 1-2 and facing three break points at 0-40, the Spaniard reverted once more to the guy who knows a bit about what to do at crunch time on this court.
—Matthew Futterman, The Athletic, 28 July 2024
Good vibes abound: 3 Yankees takeaways Tennessee and Vanderbilt baseball facing different questions in crunch time
10 Rangers road trip observations: Panarin line struggles in Game 4, special teams battle
Caitlin Clark for WNBA MVP?
—New York Times, 13 May 2024
Let the season breathe more and understand that in crunch time — at the end of halves and games — Williams has been pretty good.
—Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune, 30 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for crunch time
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 2 Dec. 2024.
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