What does "emergent" mean?
A plant whose root system grows underwater, but whose shoot, leaves and flowers grow up and above the water.
Emergent
/ɪˈmɜːd͡ʒənt/ adj, noun
adj, noun ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A plant whose root system grows underwater, but whose shoot, leaves and flowers grow up and above the water.
- Grammar: emergent is listed as adj, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: ad hoc coding, advancing, afisr, appearing.
- Useful contrasts: dying, moribund, designed result.
- Usage evidence: Some 1,500 representatives attending the 30th International Red Cross and Red Crescent Conference have unanimously adopted a resolution that reaffirms the Geneva Conventions guaranteeing certain basic rights and protections for people caught in armed conflict. Lisa Schlein reports for VOA the week-long conference also agreed to tackle the humanitarian consequences resulting from disasters such as climate change and emergent diseases.
How to use "emergent"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "emergent" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "emergent" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "emergent" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "emergent" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "emergent" is acting as adj, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "ad hoc coding" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "emergent", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A plant whose root system grows underwater, but whose shoot, leaves and flowers grow up and above the water.
Adjective
- 1 Emerging; coming into view or into existence; nascent; new.
- 2 Arising unexpectedly, especially if also calling for immediate reaction.
"The chief precepts of their priests enjoin the strict keeping of their Lents, which are at least seven months in every year, and are not to be dispensed with on the most emergent necessity. Letter 43"
- 3 Constituting an emergency. especially
"Therefore, patients with ulcerative colitis should ideally be treated before they become emergent cases with toxic megacolon or perforation of the colon."
- 4 Taller than the surrounding vegetation.
- 5 Having leaves and flowers above the water.
Show 2 more definitions
- 6 Having gameplay that arises from its mechanics, rather than a linear storyline.
"In short, emergent games are ones that allow a huge range of possibilities and don't dictate a strict, linear flow of events. A strategy game is emergent because so many units can interact and have some effect on each other."
- 7 That arises at a higher level than that of its components and is not explainable by the behaviour of said components taken individually; having properties as a whole that are more complex than the properties contributed by each of the components individually.
"an emergent property"
Adjective
- 1 coming into existence wordnet
- 2 occurring unexpectedly and requiring urgent action wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"Some 1,500 representatives attending the 30th International Red Cross and Red Crescent Conference have unanimously adopted a resolution that reaffirms the Geneva Conventions guaranteeing certain basic rights and protections for people caught in armed conflict. Lisa Schlein reports for VOA the week-long conference also agreed to tackle the humanitarian consequences resulting from disasters such as climate change and emergent diseases."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "emergent"?
Common synonyms include: ad hoc coding, advancing, afisr, appearing, approaching, arisen.
How do you use "emergent" in a sentence?
Some 1,500 representatives attending the 30th International Red Cross and Red Crescent Conference have unanimously adopted a resolution that reaffirms the Geneva Conventions guaranteeing certain basic rights and protections for people caught in armed conflict. Lisa Schlein reports for VOA the week-long conference also agreed to tackle the humanitarian consequences resulting from disasters such as climate change and emergent diseases.
How do you pronounce "emergent"?
Pronounced /ɪˈmɜːd͡ʒənt/.
Etymology
From Latin ēmergēns, present participle of ēmergō. The medical sense is a back-formation from emergency.