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
1
: something emergent
2
a
: a tree that rises above the surrounding forest
b
: an emergent plant
Synonyms
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
Quanta Magazine, 10 June 2024
Atoms of Spacetime String theory is not the only idea that suggests spacetime is emergent.
—Adam Becker, Scientific American, 1 Feb. 2022
Dhruv Khullar, The New Yorker, 13 June 2024
Small’s telling contains engaging anecdotes and the occasional digression to art historical antecedents—the evolution of photography and Donald Judd settling in Marfa—that provide obvious cultural references to anchor readers in this emergent technology.
—Charlotte Kent, ARTnews.com, 13 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for emergent 
Adjective
Rather, emergent phenomena, from Great Red Spots to conscious thoughts, demand a new language for describing the system.
—Quanta Magazine, 10 June 2024
Atoms of Spacetime String theory is not the only idea that suggests spacetime is emergent.
—Adam Becker, Scientific American, 1 Feb. 2022
Noun
The particles, which are self-replicating and guided by artificial intelligence, start to display emergent properties.
—Dhruv Khullar, The New Yorker, 13 June 2024
Small’s telling contains engaging anecdotes and the occasional digression to art historical antecedents—the evolution of photography and Donald Judd settling in Marfa—that provide obvious cultural references to anchor readers in this emergent technology.
—Charlotte Kent, ARTnews.com, 13 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for emergent
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'emergent.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near emergent
Cite this Entry
“Emergent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/emergent. Accessed 2 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
emergent
adjective
emer·gent
i-ˈmər-jənt
: calling for prompt or urgent action
an emergent condition in a hemophiliac
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