grave emergency

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "grave emergency" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation that is extremely serious and requires immediate attention or action. Example: "The hospital declared a grave emergency when the number of patients exceeded their capacity during the outbreak."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Absent some grave emergency, the Fourth Amendment has interposed a magistrate between the citizen and the police.

Cornell University

The font size of the headline prepares readers to expect anywhere from grave emergency to the quotidian status quo.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

And this court has definitely said that the production or sale of food or clothing cannot be subjected to legislative regulation on the basis of a public use; and that the same is true in respect of the business of renting houses and apartments, except as to temporary measures to tide over grave emergencies.

Cornell University

Use them in grave emergencies, example, you have been playing hard, and enemy sends in armies that may destroy you.

WikiHow

It was not until later while watching the news that she knew it concerned a graver emergency.

The New York Times

President Franklin D. Roosevelt took office during an even graver emergency but was able to establish programs like Social Security, the National Labor Relations Act and the Farm Security Administration that stemmed the economic meltdown and provided help to millions of Americans.

The New York Times

The problem was the absence of government staff (they will be off dealing with the graver emergencies).

The Economist

Mauzy told the newspaper that Prince representatives called Kornfeld the night of 20 April because Prince "was dealing with a grave medical emergency".

The Guardian - Music

Stressing the retroactive effect of the state law, the Court held that it as invalid under the Contract Clause, since it was not precisely and reasonably designed to meet a grave temporary emergency in the interest of the general welfare.

Harvard University

Despite what was a grave medical emergency, Sierra Leone and the other affected countries largely continued to function as normal, and people went about their business as usual, with some adaptations for infection-prevention protocols".

The Guardian

During this period, Roosevelt functioned in a way similar to a dictator in the ancient sense of the Constitution of the Roman Republic: an official given total power for a brief time to handle a grave national emergency.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "grave emergency", ensure the context clearly conveys the seriousness and urgency of the situation. It's most effective when immediate action is required to prevent significant harm or loss.

Common error

Avoid using "grave emergency" to describe situations that are merely inconvenient or mildly problematic. This can diminish the impact of the phrase when a truly critical situation arises.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "grave emergency" functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective "grave" intensifies the severity of the noun "emergency". It denotes a situation characterized by significant danger and requiring immediate attention. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

20%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Science

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "grave emergency" effectively conveys a sense of extreme urgency and danger, prompting immediate attention and action. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically sound and appropriate for use in a variety of contexts. While alternatives like "critical situation" or "dire crisis" exist, "grave emergency" maintains a distinct emphasis on the severe and pressing nature of the event. Its usage is prevalent across news media, academic discussions, and formal reports, indicating its widespread acceptance and understanding. Remember to reserve this phrase for genuinely critical situations to maintain its impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

critical situation

Focuses on the decisive nature of the circumstances, emphasizing that the outcome is at a crucial point.

dire crisis

Highlights the extreme seriousness and potential for disastrous consequences.

serious predicament

Emphasizes a difficult or unpleasant situation that is hard to escape from.

urgent crisis

Stresses the need for immediate action due to the pressing nature of the circumstances.

acute emergency

Highlights the sudden and severe onset of the emergency.

severe crisis

Indicates a high level of intensity and impact of the crisis.

perilous situation

Focuses on the dangers and risks involved in the circumstances.

desperate situation

Highlights the feeling of hopelessness and the urgent need for a solution.

life-threatening emergency

Specifically emphasizes the potential for loss of life.

major catastrophe

Points to a large-scale event with devastating effects.

FAQs

How to use "grave emergency" in a sentence?

You can use "grave emergency" to describe situations that are extremely serious and require immediate attention, such as "The hospital declared a "grave emergency" when the number of patients exceeded their capacity during the outbreak".

What can I say instead of "grave emergency"?

You can use alternatives like "critical situation", "dire crisis", or "urgent crisis" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "grave emergency" or "serious emergency"?

Both ""grave emergency"" and "serious emergency" are correct, but "grave emergency" implies a higher level of severity and danger compared to "serious emergency".

What's the difference between "grave emergency" and "serious situation"?

"Grave emergency" specifically refers to an urgent and dangerous situation that requires immediate action, while "serious situation" is a broader term that can describe any situation with potentially negative consequences.