crise: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Academic, Journalistic
Quick answer
What does “crise” mean?
A sudden, intense period of difficulty, danger, or instability in a system, situation, or person's life.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A sudden, intense period of difficulty, danger, or instability in a system, situation, or person's life.
A decisive or critical point, especially one requiring a difficult choice or action; a turning point. In medicine, a sudden change in the course of a disease.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Both use 'crisis' as the standard singular form. 'Crise' is an archaic or poetic variant rarely used in modern English.
Connotations
In modern English, 'crise' is perceived as an archaic, literary, or affected form. Using 'crise' instead of 'crisis' might be seen as pretentious or an error.
Frequency
'Crisis' is the universal standard. 'Crise' is extremely rare and mostly found in historical texts or deliberate archaisms.
Grammar
How to Use “crise” in a Sentence
to be in criseto go through a criseto precipitate a criseto overcome a criseVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “crise” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The situation began to crise as negotiations broke down.
- He seemed to be crising under the pressure of the new role.
American English
- The market started to crisis after the announcement.
- Their relationship was crising due to constant arguments.
adverb
British English
- The manager reacted crise to the falling sales figures.
- She spoke crise about the need for immediate reform.
American English
- He acted crise upon hearing the news.
- The report was written crise to highlight the urgency.
adjective
British English
- The team entered a crise period following the scandal.
- She gave a crise assessment of the company's finances.
American English
- The country faced a crise situation with the looming debt deadline.
- His crise remarks alarmed the board of directors.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
A sudden event that threatens the company's operations or reputation, e.g., a public relations crisis.
Academic
A critical turning point in a historical, political, or theoretical process.
Everyday
A personal situation of intense stress requiring immediate action, e.g., a family crisis.
Technical
In medicine, the turning point of a disease. In drama, the climax of a plot.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “crise”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “crise”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “crise”
- Using 'crise' in modern writing instead of 'crisis'.
- Misspelling the plural as 'crises' (correct) vs. 'crisises' (incorrect).
- Confusing 'crisis' with 'criteria' (plural of criterion).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Crise' is an archaic or poetic variant of 'crisis'. It is not standard in modern English and its use is likely to be seen as an error or affectation.
The plural is 'crises', pronounced /ˈkraɪsiːz/. It is an irregular plural, similar to 'analysis/analyses' and 'thesis/theses'.
In standard usage, 'crisis' is a noun. Using it as a verb or adjective (e.g., 'to crisis', 'a crisis moment') is considered non-standard or informal, though such uses are occasionally seen in business or journalistic jargon.
A 'crisis' is a period of intense difficulty or danger that is often more prolonged and complex, requiring decisive change. An 'emergency' is a sudden, urgent event requiring immediate action to prevent worsening. A crisis may contain several emergencies.
A sudden, intense period of difficulty, danger, or instability in a system, situation, or person's life.
Crise is usually formal, academic, journalistic in register.
Crise: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkraɪsɪs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkraɪsɪs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “midlife crisis”
- “crisis of confidence”
- “crisis point”
- “to weather the crisis”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'crise' as the French word for crisis, but in English it's an old-fashioned version. Remember: Modern English uses CRISIS, the 'S' is the key to success.
Conceptual Metaphor
A CRISIS IS A STORM (to weather a crisis), A CRISIS IS A DISEASE (the economy is in crisis), A CRISIS IS A CROSSROADS (a point of critical decision).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the standard modern English singular form?