a sudden, urgent, usually unexpected occurrence or occasion requiring immediate action.
a state, especially of need for help or relief, created by some unexpected event: a weather emergency; a financial emergency.
emergency room: Bring him to emergency—the doctor will meet you there.
adjective
granted, used, or for use in an emergency: an emergency leave; emergency lights.
Origin of emergency
First recorded in 1625–35; from Medieval Latin ēmergentia, equivalent to ēmerg- (see emerge) + -entia noun suffix (see -ency); see also emergent
SYNONYMS FOR emergency
1 exigency, extremity, pinch, quandary, plight.
SEE SYNONYMS FOR emergency ON THESAURUS.COM
synonym study for emergency
1. 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.
Congress has already approved roughly $3 trillion in emergency spending in response to the coronavirus pandemic, and Pelosi has called for much more.
Trump moves closer to Pelosi in economic aid talks, and House speaker must decide next move|Rachael Bade, Erica Werner|September 17, 2020|Washington Post
An emergency like a rapidly spreading virus, though, requires swift action, which most courts have acknowledged, he said.
Courts may reconsider temporary coronavirus restrictions as pandemic drags on|Anne Gearan, Karin Brulliard|September 16, 2020|Washington Post
If you can’t make it to the polls because of an unexpected illness, you may qualify for an emergency absentee ballot.
ProPublica’s Pandemic Guide to Making Sure Your Vote Counts|by Susie Armitage|September 16, 2020|ProPublica
Bishop’s injury was unfortunate, but Dallas had a backup in place who was equally as good, if not better, to take over in case of emergency.
Teams Don’t Win The Stanley Cup With A Goal Deficit. Can The Dallas Stars Change That?|Terrence Doyle|September 16, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
Harris and Newsom spoke to emergency personnel at Pine Ridge Elementary School in Auberry, about an hour east of Fresno.
Trump, in town hall, says he wouldn’t have done anything differently on pandemic|Colby Itkowitz, Josh Dawsey, Felicia Sonmez, John Wagner|September 16, 2020|Washington Post
During an emergency that ratio could be allowed to drop to 8.5 people per orbit.
Exclusive: U.S. Drone Fleet at ‘Breaking Point,’ Air Force Says|Dave Majumdar|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
One specific kind of emergency is at the heart of this, such as when an airplane suffers a loss of stability at night.
Flight 8501 Poses Question: Are Modern Jets Too Automated to Fly?|Clive Irving|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Had they been properly trained, they could and should have flown themselves safely out of the emergency.
Flight 8501 Poses Question: Are Modern Jets Too Automated to Fly?|Clive Irving|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
This suggests that the pilots were overtaken very rapidly by an emergency.
Did Bad Weather Bring Down AirAsia 8501?|Clive Irving|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A click sends a user to a statement, a list of passenger nationalities, emergency call-center numbers, and other information.
The Presumed Crash of AirAsia Flight QZ8501 Is Nothing Like MH370|Lennox Samuels|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This was a turn in the affair they had not anticipated, but they were evidently prepared to meet the emergency.
Cad Metti, The Female Detective Strategist|Harlan Page Halsey
Contrivance and expedient presented themselves,—all inadequate to the emergency.
Alone|Marion Harland
I inherited some of his cases, and Marbury was one of those who begged me to come in at the emergency.
The Blue Wall|Richard Washburn Child
The telephone operator was always testing one or another connection, day and night, for the emergency when it would be needed.
A Jewish Chaplain in France|Lee J. Levinger
After about an hour's groping in the dark, we found an emergency cabin near the Mud Geyser.
Down the Yellowstone|Lewis R. Freeman
British Dictionary definitions for emergency
emergency
/ (ɪˈmɜːdʒənsɪ) /
nounplural-cies
an unforeseen or sudden occurrence, esp of a danger demanding immediate remedy or action
(as modifier)an emergency exit
a patient requiring urgent treatment
(as modifier)an emergency ward
state of emergencya condition, declared by a government, in which martial law applies, usually because of civil unrest or natural disaster
NZa player selected to stand by to replace an injured member of a team; reserve
Is “Emergency” The Right Word To Describe What’s Happening At The Border?Many are wondering: Is "emergency" really the right word to describe what's happening at the border?