* Submerge: This is the most direct opposite, literally meaning to go under the surface of water. It can also be used figuratively to describe going into hiding or obscurity.
* Disappear: This suggests a complete vanishing from sight or existence.
* Conceal: This implies a deliberate act of hiding something from view.
* Retreat: This suggests a withdrawal or moving back from a previous position.
* Decline: This implies a gradual fading or weakening, the opposite of emergence as a rising force.
The best antonym for "emerge" will depend on the specific meaning and context in which it is used.