How to Use crunch time in a Sentence

crunch time

noun
  • The team had trained well, but at crunch time they just couldn't perform.
  • That means getting stops at crunch time.
    — Cedric Golden, Austin American Statesman, 30 Jan. 2026
  • In crunch time, Leavitt finds ways to make plays.
    — Sam Khan Jr, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2026
  • The best teams—and the best leaders—do more than show up in crunch time.
    — Don Yaeger, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025
  • He was sacked just three times in 49 pass plays, and was clutch in crunch time.
    — Ben Volin, BostonGlobe.com, 30 Jan. 2023
  • For the second game in a row, the outcome came down the crunch time.
    — Jeff McDonald, San Antonio Express-News, 28 Mar. 2022
  • And the guy who has the ball in his hands at crunch time is Doncic.
    — Tim Cowlishaw, Dallas News, 1 Aug. 2020
  • Brady Manek's key threes Manek missed two big free throws in crunch time.
    — Scott Gleeson, USA TODAY, 3 Apr. 2022
  • Months ago, that wouldn’t have been Windler out there during crunch time.
    — Chris Fedor, cleveland, 29 Mar. 2022
  • Auburn also got a boost down the stretch from a new-look lineup in crunch time.
    — Tom Green | [email protected], al, 3 Mar. 2022
  • In crunch times, our duties overlap.
    — Jeanne Phillips, Mercury News, 18 Apr. 2026
  • Three of those came in crunch time to help Ryle pull away to victory.
    — Brendan Connelly, The Enquirer, 2 Mar. 2023
  • The Bucks had just six turnovers in the first half, but couldn’t hang on to the ball in crunch time.
    — Jim Owczarski, Journal Sentinel, 24 Apr. 2023
  • That’s when Canales and Idzik will likely test him in crunch time.
    — Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 18 Sep. 2025
  • Both show poise in crunch time, but Jackson and the Ravens have the wins too.
    — Dan Wiederer, chicagotribune.com, 20 Nov. 2021
  • The Spurs went up 20 by the beginning of crunch time.
    — Christian Clark, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026
  • Both Garland and Porter got their chance for crunch time minutes.
    — Chris Fedor, cleveland, 23 Dec. 2019
  • Vogel later benched him again in crunch time in a win over New York.
    — Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2022
  • Ellis came up with some big plays during crunch time Tuesday.
    — Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 4 Mar. 2026
  • Without two of their sharpshooters, the Bulls fell flat in crunch time.
    — Julia Poe, chicagotribune.com, 23 Jan. 2022
  • Pre-snap reads and post-snap adjustments can prove critical in crunch time.
    — Michael-Shawn Dugar, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
  • So, the defense doubled down on dominance in crunch time.
    — Charlotte Observer, 20 Oct. 2025
  • That’s not easy during the fog of war that is an NFL game in crunch time.
    — Carlos Monarrez, Detroit Free Press, 3 Oct. 2021
  • That doesn’t mean the Bears will win every tight playoff game, but they won’t be fazed in crunch time.
    — Kevin Fishbain, New York Times, 2 Jan. 2026
  • Friday night, at crunch time, Kel’el Ware mattered.
    — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 7 Mar. 2026
  • With Leonard watching from the bench in street clothes, Harden was at his best in crunch time.
    — Tom Orsborn, San Antonio Express-News, 1 Feb. 2018
  • Darius Garland and Lamar Stevens each split a pair in crunch time.
    — Chris Fedor, cleveland, 28 Mar. 2021
  • For the Tar Heels, it was perfectly played defense in crunch time.
    — Dave Skretta, SFChronicle.com, 29 Mar. 2020
  • Redick’s team, which had seen a 13-point lead evaporate, again proved its mettle in crunch time.
    — Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 19 Mar. 2026
  • Now, the Ravens offense is a mess and the defense can’t get off the field in crunch time in the fourth quarter.
    — Mike Preston, baltimoresun.com, 22 Nov. 2020

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'crunch time.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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