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 trust has not had to declare a critical incident, however, and says patients needing urgent care should still come forward.
From BBC
Speaking to the Commons Transport Committee, Greenwood said she did not want to "demonise the trade" but MPs could not be "complacent" about the urgent need to strengthen the law.
From BBC
But Gault said that the executive needed to make "urgent decisions to prioritise education and provide the funding necessary to protect children's futures".
From BBC
“I held on to it to give to his widow. After I got word from Saint Catharines, I’ve been holding it for you,” Old Joseph said, his voice growing more urgent.
From Literature
Even before 9/11, officials in national security circles had discussed changing the structure of some of the agencies to deal with the urgent threat of terrorism following the end of the Cold War.
From Salon
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.
