emerge

The word “emerge” means to come out from somewhere hidden or enclosed, becoming visible. In plain terms, to come out into view, or for facts to come to light.

“Emerge” is pronounced ih-MURJ (/ɪˈmɝd͡ʒ/ in IPA).

Here is “emerge” used in a sentence: “The sun emerged from behind the clouds.”

Words with a similar meaning to “emerge” include forthcome and heave in sight.

“Emerge” is a verb.

The word “emerge” comes from Latin. From Latin emergere, "to rise up or come out," from ex- ("out") plus mergere ("to dip or sink") — the same root as submerge.

“Emerge” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

“Emerge” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to come out from somewhere hidden or enclosed, becoming visible.

"Emerge" stresses coming out from something that hid or enclosed it, suggesting a process of moving into view, as when the sun emerges from behind clouds. "Appear" simply means to become visible or present, without implying anything was covering it before.

Despite sounding similar, they are near-opposites: "emerge" means to come out into view, while "immerse" means to plunge or sink something into a liquid. Note also that "emerge" has one m, whereas "immerse" has two.

"Emerge" is most often followed by "from," naming the place or state something comes out of, as in "emerge from the water" or "emerge from a crisis." It can also take "as," as in "emerge as a leader," meaning to develop into that role.

"Emerge" is the more formal, often literary choice, well suited to writing and to figurative uses like "emerge from recession." "Come out" is the everyday, informal equivalent for appearing, and it also carries idiomatic meanings that "emerge" does not.