juncture
gb/d͡ʒˈʌŋkt͡ʃɚ/ us/d͡ʒˈʌŋkt͡ʃɚ/
C1
English
~ 9300
Senses
0 senses
Noun
formal
C1
entity
1
critical or important point in time
A special time or stage in a situation when something important may change or a big decision must be made.
Usage pattern:
at [this/that] juncture in [something]
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse 'juncture' with 'junction'. Use 'juncture' for a point in time or in a process, especially when it is important, and 'junction' mainly for a place where roads, lines, or paths meet. Learners may also overuse 'juncture' in everyday speech where native speakers would more naturally say 'point' or 'stage'.
Synonyms
turning point (Emphasizes a major change in direction, often more dramatic or emotional than 'juncture'.)
|
stage (More general and neutral; does not always suggest difficulty or high importance.)
|
moment (Focuses on a short period of time; less formal and not necessarily part of a larger process.)
Antonyms
stability (Suggests a period without major change or decisions, the opposite of a tense or decisive juncture.)
Collocations
at this juncture
|critical juncture
|crucial juncture
|historic juncture
|political juncture
|at a key juncture
Themes
time
|decisions
|politics
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- At this juncture, the company must decide whether to expand or to cut its losses.
- The talks have reached a delicate juncture, and a single mistake could end the negotiations.
- Many analysts see this year as a crucial juncture in the fight against climate change.
- We are approaching a juncture where small policy choices will have very large effects.
- Their marriage is at a difficult juncture, and they are considering counseling.
Learner examples
- At this juncture, we need to make a clear plan.
- The country is at an important juncture in its history.
- Our project has reached a hard juncture, and we must choose what to do next.
- This exam is a key juncture in your career.
- We met at a strange juncture in both of our lives.
Noun
formal
C2
relation
2
place where things join
The point where two or more things come together or meet, in space or in ideas.
Usage pattern:
the juncture of [thing1] and [thing2]
Common mistake:
Learners may think 'juncture' is common for physical locations, but in everyday English 'junction' or 'intersection' are usually more natural, especially for roads. 'Juncture' here often sounds quite formal or academic, especially for abstract combinations like 'the juncture of art and science'.
Synonyms
junction (More common for physical meeting points like roads or railways and slightly less formal in tone.)
|
intersection (Highlights crossing or overlap; more common for roads, lines, or sets than for abstract connections of ideas.)
|
meeting point (More informal and descriptive; lacks the compact, technical feel of 'juncture'.)
Antonyms
separation (Describes things being apart or kept apart, the opposite of meeting or joining at a juncture.)
Collocations
the juncture of two roads
|the juncture of art and science
|at the juncture of the wall and ceiling
|juncture between two cultures
Themes
space
|structure
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The village lies at the juncture of two ancient trade routes.
- Moisture had collected at the juncture of the wall and the ceiling.
- Her research sits at the juncture of psychology and economics.
- The architect reinforced the juncture of the beams to prevent cracking.
- This book explores the juncture between personal memory and public history.
Learner examples
- The town is at the juncture of two rivers.
- Water dripped from the juncture of the roof and the wall.
- His work is at the juncture of music and technology.
- We studied the juncture of the two metal parts.
- This question stands at the juncture of law and ethics.
Noun
technical
C2
relation
3
boundary between speech sounds
In the study of speech sounds, the place where one sound or word ends and the next one begins.
Usage pattern:
[type] juncture between [sounds/words]
Synonyms
boundary (General term; in linguistics, it describes where one unit ends and another begins, while 'juncture' focuses on the sound transition itself.)
Antonyms
linking (Refers to the smooth connection of sounds without a clear break, the opposite of a marked juncture between them.)
Collocations
phonemic juncture
|syllable juncture
|word juncture
Themes
language
|science
|communication
|education
Examples
- In this language, phonemic juncture can distinguish otherwise identical sound sequences.
- Clear word juncture helps listeners understand rapid speech.
- The textbook devotes a full chapter to syllable structure and juncture.
- Misplaced juncture can make two separate words sound like one.
- The researcher analyzed how children learn to mark juncture in connected speech.
Learner examples
- In fast speech, the juncture between words can be hard to hear.
- Teachers sometimes show students where the juncture is between two sounds.
- A clear juncture can change how we understand a spoken sentence.
- Linguists study the juncture between sounds in many languages.
- The audio program shows a line at each word juncture.
Noun
technical
C2
entity
4
point where body parts meet
In medical language, the place where two parts of the body come together.
Usage pattern:
the juncture of [body part] and [body part]
Synonyms
joint (More common everyday term for where bones meet; 'juncture' sounds more technical and can also refer to soft tissues or vessels.)
Antonyms
disunion (General term for the state of parts not being joined; in this context, the absence or loss of connection between body parts.)
Collocations
juncture of the neck and shoulder
|juncture of two arteries
|bone juncture
|juncture of the ribs and spine
Themes
medicine
|biology
|health
|body
Examples
- The patient reported pain at the juncture of the neck and shoulder.
- The tumor was located near the juncture of the esophagus and the stomach.
- Inflammation at the bone juncture can severely limit movement.
- The surgeon carefully examined the juncture of the two arteries before proceeding.
- Calcium deposits were found around the juncture of the ribs and the spine.
Learner examples
- The doctor felt the area at the juncture of my arm and shoulder.
- There is a small nerve at the juncture of these two bones.
- Pain at the juncture of the leg and hip made it hard to walk.
- The injury was at the juncture of two fingers.
- A scan showed a problem at the juncture of the two veins.
Grammar
Dictionary form
juncture
IPA
GB/d͡ʒˈʌŋkt͡ʃɚ/
US/d͡ʒˈʌŋkt͡ʃɚ/
Syllables & stress
junc - ture (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (junc)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: juncture
- Plural: junctures
Word family
Expressions
at this juncture
1/ˈæt ðˈɪs d͡ʒˈʌŋkt͡ʃɚ/
fixed phrase
formal
at this particular point now
At this moment or stage in a situation, especially when something important may change or a decision is needed.
Examples
- At this juncture, we have to decide whether to continue the project or end it.
- The committee cannot release more information at this juncture.
- At this juncture, it would be unwise to change the plan completely.