Advertisement

Advertisement

View synonyms for emergency

emergency

[ ih-mur-juhn-see ]

noun

, plural e·mer·gen·cies.
  1. a sudden, urgent, usually unexpected occurrence or occasion requiring immediate action.

    Synonyms: plight, quandary, pinch, extremity, exigency

  2. a state, especially of need for help or relief, created by some unexpected event:

    a weather emergency; a financial emergency.

  3. Bring him to emergency—the doctor will meet you there.



adjective

  1. granted, used, or for use in an emergency:

    an emergency leave; emergency lights.

emergency

/ ɪˈmɜːdʒənsɪ /

noun

    1. an unforeseen or sudden occurrence, esp of a danger demanding immediate remedy or action
    2. ( as modifier )

      an emergency exit

    1. a patient requiring urgent treatment
    2. ( as modifier )

      an emergency ward

  1. state of emergency
    a condition, declared by a government, in which martial law applies, usually because of civil unrest or natural disaster
  2. a player selected to stand by to replace an injured member of a team; reserve


Discover More

Other Words From

  • non·e·mer·gen·cy adjective noun plural nonemergencies
  • post·e·mer·gen·cy adjective
  • pre·e·mer·gen·cy adjective noun plural preemergencies

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of emergency1

First recorded in 1625–35; from Medieval Latin ēmergentia, equivalent to ēmerg- ( emerge ) + -entia noun suffix ( -ency ); emergent

Discover More

Synonym Study

Emergency, crisis, straits refer to dangerous situations. An emergency is a situation demanding immediate action: A power failure created an emergency in transportation. A crisis is a vital or decisive turning point in a condition or state of affairs, and everything depends on the outcome of it: Help arrived when affairs had reached a crisis. Strait (usually straits ) suggests a pressing situation, often one of need or want: The family was in desperate straits for food and clothing.

Discover More

Example Sentences

During an emergency that ratio could be allowed to drop to 8.5 people per orbit.

Investigators will focus on whether the sudden emergency was so extreme that no degree of pilot skill would have helped.

One specific kind of emergency is at the heart of this, such as when an airplane suffers a loss of stability at night.

Had they been properly trained, they could and should have flown themselves safely out of the emergency.

This suggests that the pilots were overtaken very rapidly by an emergency.

Here there is no question of emergency, or enemy pressure, or of haste; so much we see plain enough with our own eyes.

The case for emergency contractility, however, is somewhat better than the case for ordinary contractility.

I do not know whether they can be manned, but everything is being prepared for any emergency that may arise.

As long as an emergency truck could squeeze through at moderate speed, that was enough.

Sam, who was quite equal to the emergency, took old Liz into his arms and followed, but cast one glance back at Tommy.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


emergenceemergency boat