Juncture
/ˈdʒʌŋktʃər/
nounB2
Definition
A juncture means a specific moment or place where two or more things meet or join. It often refers to a critical time when a decision must be made or when events come together. It can also mean a physical connection, like where two roads or parts join.
Was this helpful?
⚡ See It in Action
An important point in time, especially when a decision or change happens
- •We are at a critical juncture in the project’s development.
- •The country reached a juncture where it had to decide its future.
- •This juncture in her career made her think carefully about her next steps.
A physical place where two things join or meet
- •The bridge is located at the juncture of two rivers.
- •The juncture of the two roads is marked by a traffic light.
- •The engineer checked the juncture between the two metal parts.
🧲 Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "juncture" like "point" (A1 word), but a very important or special point where things meet or change
- ✓Picture two roads crossing or joining together in one place, like a crossroad or a bridge
- ✓It's the feeling of standing at a moment when you must choose which way to go, like at a fork in the road
- ✓Sounds like "JUNK-chur" → imagine a "junk" pile where many things meet and connect in one spot
- ✓Think of stories where characters reach a turning point that changes everything — that moment is a juncture
- ✓NOT like "line" (a long simple path), juncture is a specific meeting or joining point
- ✓NOT like "change" (general), juncture is the exact moment or place where something important happens
- ✓NOT like "junction" (which is similar physically), but "juncture" can be more about time and decisions, not just place
🔄 Try Other Words
- •Moment: a particular time (Use when focusing on time, especially a short or important time)
- •Crossroad: a place where roads meet, or a time of decision (Use when emphasizing choice or physical meeting)
- •Junction: a place where things join (Use when talking about physical places more than time)
- •Stage: a step in a process (Use when focusing on part of a development or progress)
🔍 Unboxing
- •Word parts: "junct-" from Latin "jungere" meaning "to join" + "-ure" a suffix that forms nouns
- •Etymology: Comes from Latin "junctura," meaning a joining or connection
- •Historical development: Originally used to describe physical connections, later extended to important moments in time
- •Modern usage: Used in both physical and metaphorical senses to describe places or times of joining or decision
💭 Reflect & Connect
•Can you think of a personal juncture in your life when you had to make an important decision? What happened?
•How does understanding the idea of a juncture help you plan better for difficult moments or choices?
Fill in the blanks with the correct word:
1.At this juncture, the team must ___ whether to continue or stop the project.
2.The city is located at the juncture ___ two major highways.
3.Unlike a simple point, a juncture often marks an important ___ or decision.
4.When roads meet, we call that place a juncture or a ___.
5.The project reached a difficult juncture, so everyone felt ___ about the future.
6.The engineer carefully examined the juncture ___ the two metal pieces.
7.At this juncture in history, many people feel ___ about change.