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reach a critical point
/riːtʃ ə ˈkrɪtɪkəl pɔɪnt/
arrive at a decisive or pivotal stage
The project reached a critical point when funding was cut.
The project arrived at a decisive stage where funding was no longer available.
Business
formal
to arrive at a stage where a situation or process becomes crucial or decisive
The negotiations reached a critical point when both parties refused to compromise.
The negotiations arrived at a decisive stage where neither side was willing to compromise.
Often used in contexts where a decision or intervention is urgently needed.
Technology
technical
to reach a stage where a system or process is at risk of failure or requires immediate attention
The server reached a critical point and crashed due to overloading.
The server arrived at a stage where it could no longer handle the load and failed.
Common in engineering and IT contexts.
Collocations
reach a critical massaccumulate enough support or resources to become effectivereach a critical thresholdcross a decisive point where a change occurs
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Usage in Business
This phrase is often used in business contexts to describe a situation that requires immediate action or decision-making.
Gold Rule
Formal Context
This phrase is typically used in formal or professional settings and should be avoided in casual conversation.
Word Origin
Derived from the combination of 'reach' (to arrive at) and 'critical point' (a decisive or pivotal stage).
Usage Notes
This phrase is commonly used in formal and professional contexts to describe a situation that has become urgent or decisive.
Word Breakdown
reach
to arrive at
rootcritical
decisive or urgent
adjectivepoint
stage or moment
nounEnglish Dictionary