emerge
ih-MURJ
Emerge (verb) means to come out from somewhere hidden or enclosed, becoming visible. Example: “The butterfly slowly emerged from its chrysalis and dried its wings.”
verb
1
To come out from somewhere hidden or enclosed, becoming visible.
"The butterfly slowly emerged from its chrysalis and dried its wings."
"The sun emerged from behind the clouds."
"A figure emerged from the shadows."
2
To become known or apparent, especially after investigation.
"It later emerged that the bus had been late because of a signal fault."
"As the inquiry continued, the true cause of the fire began to emerge."
"New evidence has emerged that contradicts the official story."
How to use emerge
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo come out into view, or for facts to come to light.
Common pairings
emerge from
facts emerge
emerge victorious
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- emerges
- Past tense
- emerged
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The butterfly slowly _____ from its chrysalis and dried its wings.
Etymology
From Latin emergere, "to rise up or come out," from ex- ("out") plus mergere ("to dip or sink") — the same root as submerge.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for emerge
See all rhymes for emerge →Frequently asked questions
What does “emerge” mean?
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.
How do you pronounce “emerge”?
“Emerge” is pronounced ih-MURJ (/ɪˈmɝd͡ʒ/ in IPA).
How do you use “emerge” in a sentence?
Here is “emerge” used in a sentence: “The sun emerged from behind the clouds.”
What is another word for “emerge”?
Words with a similar meaning to “emerge” include forthcome and heave in sight.
What part of speech is “emerge”?
“Emerge” is a verb.
Where does the word “emerge” come from?
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.
Is “emerge” a common word?
“Emerge” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “emerge” have?
“Emerge” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to come out from somewhere hidden or enclosed, becoming visible.
What is the difference between "emerge" and "appear"?
"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.
What is the difference between "emerge" and "immerse"?
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.
What preposition goes with "emerge"?
"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.
When should you use "emerge" instead of "come out"?
"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.
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