emerge

Meanings

1. 1verbintransitive

   To come out of a place where you were hidden or enclosed and become visible.

   Grammar: No object; usually followed by from: emerge from the tunnel.

   Patterns

   • emerge from something
   • emerge into something

   The divers emerged from the cave after two hours.

   A small bird emerged from the hedge and hopped across the lawn.

   The sun finally emerged from behind the clouds.

2. 2verbintransitive

   To become known or clear, usually after investigation or the passing of time.

   Grammar: No object; often used with that or as a result of facts: it emerged that he had lied.

   Patterns

   • it emerges that something
   • emerge as something

   It emerged that the company had known about the fault for years.

   New details emerged during the second week of the trial.

   A pattern slowly emerged as we studied the data.

3. 3verbintransitive

   To start to exist or to be recognized as something, especially after a period of development or difficulty.

   Grammar: No object; often followed by as or from: emerge as a leader.

   Patterns

   • emerge as something
   • emerge from something

   She emerged as the strongest candidate after the debate.

   The country emerged from the war with a damaged economy.

   New industries emerged in the region during the 1990s.

Word forms

Common combinations

emerge from the shadows

A figure emerged from the shadows near the old gate.

emerge victorious

The home team emerged victorious after extra time.

emerge unscathed

Somehow the driver emerged unscathed from the crash.

emerge as a leader

Over the crisis, Maria emerged as a natural leader.

evidence emerges

As more evidence emerged, the theory lost support.

Synonyms and how they differ

appear

Appear only says something becomes visible, while emerge suggests it comes out of somewhere or develops gradually.

surface

Surface is more informal and often used for hidden problems or rumors coming to light.

materialize

Materialize implies something takes real form, often suddenly, whereas emerge allows a slow process.

arise

Arise fits problems or situations beginning to exist, but it rarely describes physically coming out of a place.

Opposites

Word family

emergence noun

the act of coming out or coming into existence

emergent adjective

newly appearing or developing

emerging adjective

in the process of developing, as in emerging markets

emergency noun

a sudden dangerous situation that arises

Commonly confused: emerge or immerge? emerge or merge?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “emerge”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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