urgent

adjective

ur·​gent ˈər-jənt How to pronounce urgent (audio)
1
a
: calling for immediate attention : pressing
urgent appeals
an urgent need
b
: conveying a sense of urgency
2
: urging insistently : importunate
urgently adverb

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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 See all Example Sentences for urgent 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of urgent was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near urgent

Cite this Entry

“Urgent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/urgent. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

urgent

adjective
ur·​gent ˈər-jənt How to pronounce urgent (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on urgent

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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