urgent

[ur-juhnt]

adjective

1. compelling or requiring immediate action or attention; dire; pressing.

   an urgent matter.

   Synonyms: desperate, imperative

2. insistent or earnest in solicitation; importunate, as a person.

   an urgent pleader.

3. expressed with insistence, as requests or appeals.

   an urgent tone of voice.

urgent

/ ˈɜːdʒənsɪ, ˈɜːdʒənt /

adjective

1. requiring or compelling speedy action or attention

   the matter is urgent

   an urgent message

2. earnest and persistent

Other Word Forms

• urgently adverb
• nonurgent adjective
• superurgent adjective
• unurgent adjective
• urgency noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of urgent¹

First recorded in 1490–1500; from Latin urgent- (stem of urgēns ), present participle of urgēre “to press, force, drive”; urge, -ent

Word History and Origins

Origin of urgent¹

C15: via French from Latin urgent-, urgens, present participle of urgēre to _urge

Example Sentences

They did not suggest stopping anything that was urgent, Mr Burton said but "there was a balance of prioritisation".

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Joe Freeman, Amnesty International's Myanmar researcher, said the attack "should serve as a gruesome wake-up call that civilians in Myanmar need urgent protection".

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"We are calling for urgent action from the government to alleviate this crisis."

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In a statement, the Department for Business said it was "pushing the European Commission for urgent clarification of the impact of this move on the UK".

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Lewis, who delivers Orwell’s words with a steely intensity that builds toward alarm, says his warnings have only grown more urgent.

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Related Words

• compelling 
• critical 
• crucial 
• demanding 
• essential 
• immediate 
• imperative 
• important 
• indispensable 
• necessary 
• persuasive 
• pressing 
• serious 
• vital 
• weighty