urgent
Americanadjective
-
compelling or requiring immediate action or attention; dire; pressing.
an urgent matter.
- Synonyms:
- desperate, imperative
-
insistent or earnest in solicitation; importunate, as a person.
an urgent pleader.
-
expressed with insistence, as requests or appeals.
an urgent tone of voice.
adjective
-
requiring or compelling speedy action or attention
the matter is urgent
an urgent message
-
earnest and persistent
Other Word Forms
- nonurgent adjective
- superurgent adjective
- unurgent adjective
- urgency noun
- urgently adverb
Etymology
Origin of urgent
First recorded in 1490–1500; from Latin urgent- (stem of urgēns ), present participle of urgēre “to press, force, drive”; urge, -ent
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The government has previously used registration schemes to provide urgent updates to people affected by international crises but the number of people and countries affected in this case is unprecedented.
From BBC
Amy is now at risk of bowel obstruction and possible kidney failure and is considered an urgent case but remains stuck on a surgery waiting list and feels like she has been "left to rot".
From BBC
He said in the blog the party's proposed policy would prioritise veterans, people fleeing domestic abuse, and those in overcrowded homes, as well as those with urgent medical needs.
From BBC
He called for an "urgent de-escalation" in the conflict.
From BBC
The act allows the president to carry out a limited military intervention to respond to an urgent situation created by an attack against the United States.
From Barron's
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
