critical mass

[krit-i-kuhl mas] / ˈkrɪt ɪ kəl ˈmæs /

NOUN

crucial point

Synonyms

WEAK

climax crisis crisis point critical juncture critical point critical stage crossroads crucial moment crunch time decisive moment defining moment do or die time emergency high noon irreversible momentum moment of truth pivotal point point of no return sink or swim time the Rubicon turning point zero hour

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“For the first time in years, there is a critical mass of citizens who are done pretending that what they see before their eyes isn’t really there,” Daum wrote on her Substack.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 11, 2026

The situation came to a critical mass in 2024 when Musk sued OpenAI for diverging from its nonprofit mission.

From Slate • Apr. 30, 2026

"It'll hit a critical mass at some point, and maybe become as commonplace as smartwatches or glasses," he said.

From Barron's • Jan. 8, 2026

"And therefore, because there's no critical mass, they are really not part of the core of this small start-up village. And therefore, in my opinion we need to create critical mass."

From BBC • Dec. 7, 2025

As more join in, they seem to reach a critical mass, a quorum, and the thinking begins.

From "The Lives of a Cell" by Lewis Thomas

critical mass

Example Sentences

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