emerge

verb

i-ˈmərj 

emerged; emerging

intransitive verb

1

: to become manifest : become known

new problems emerged

2

: to rise from or as if from an enveloping fluid : come out into view

a diver emerging from the water

3

: to rise from an obscure or inferior position or condition

someone must emerge as a leader

4

: to come into being through evolution

Synonyms

• arise
• come up
• crop (up)
• materialize
• spring (up)
• surface

Examples of emerge in a Sentence

The facts emerged after a lengthy investigation.

Several possible candidates have emerged.

She has emerged as a leading contender in the field.

His war record has emerged as a key issue in the election.

when land first emerged from the sea

The cat emerged from its hiding place behind the couch.

animals emerging from a long period of inactivity

Recent Examples on the Web

Take, for example, the emerging collaboration of working-class voters with the very, very wealthy in America who have increasingly allied themselves with President Trump. —Ron Elving, NPR, 1 Feb. 2025

Further details about the situation between Christina and Josh emerged during the show’s premiere on Jan. 29. —Toria Sheffield, People.com, 1 Feb. 2025

Still, details about the collision’s circumstances and potential avenues for the investigation are emerging. —Pete Muntean, CNN, 1 Feb. 2025

Higgins, the aviation professor, said one plausible theory has emerged: that air traffic controls instructed the UH-60 Black Hawk to maintain separation from the regional jet and those pilots identified the incorrect aircraft. —George Petras, USA TODAY, 31 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin emergere, from e- + mergere to plunge — more at merge

First Known Use

1563, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing emerge

• emerge the victor
• emerge victorious
• re-emerge

Kids Definition

emerge

verb

i-ˈmərj 

emerged; emerging

1

: to become known or apparent

the facts emerged

2

: to rise from or as if from a fluid : come out into view