urgent

adjective

ur·​gent ˈər-jənt 

1

a

: calling for immediate attention : pressing

urgent appeals

an urgent need

b

: conveying a sense of urgency

2

: urging insistently : importunate

urgently adverb

Synonyms

• acute
• burning
• clamant
• compelling
• critical
• crying
• dire
• emergent
• exigent
• imperative
• imperious
• importunate
• instant
• necessitous
• pressing

Examples of urgent in a Sentence

We've come to deliver an urgent message.

an urgent appeal for assistance

He addressed us in an urgent manner.

An urgent voice came over the intercom, telling us to leave the building immediately.

Recent Examples on the Web

More than 90% of Gazans are homeless, according to the U.N., and there is an urgent need for tents and other shelters. —Ghada Abdulfattah, The Christian Science Monitor, 24 Jan. 2025

For example, any urgent messages regarding H5N1 bird flu, which is spreading to people in the U.S., would be delayed. —Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 24 Jan. 2025

The Context Gun violence in schools continues to devastate communities and leave families shattered, sparking urgent calls for stronger safety measures as well as for a deeper national conversation about how to address the root causes of this escalating crisis. —John Yoo and John Shu, Newsweek, 23 Jan. 2025

This comedy-drama – the seriousness isn’t a shocker, the humor is – comes at a moment in history when listening seems as rare a thing as the desire to be heard is urgent. —Greg Evans, Deadline, 23 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin urgent-, urgens, present participle of urgēre

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing urgent

• urgent care

Kids Definition

urgent

adjective

ur·​gent ˈər-jənt 

1

a

: calling for immediate attention : pressing

an urgent need for food

b

: indicating an urgent desire or need

an urgent manner

2

: urging very earnestly

urgently adverb