pressing

adjective

press·​ing ˈpre-siŋ 

1

: urgently important : critical

a pressing issue

2

: earnest, warm

pressingly

ˈpre-siŋ-lē 

adverb

Synonyms of pressing

• urgent
• acute

Examples of pressing in a Sentence

a pressing need for reform

she had pressing business on the other side of town

Recent Examples on the Web

The report highlights Africa as the world’s most pressing food-security challenge. — ABC News, 21 July 2026

No side at this World Cup regained possession more often (51) from such counter-pressing sequences than Spain, nicking the ball back six times on Sunday alone. — Thom Harris, New York Times, 20 July 2026

Most older readers know this territory; younger ones have other, more pressing concerns, including how to afford life in the here-and-now. — Los Angeles Times, 20 July 2026

Split on the issues On the most pressing issues, both parties have their own advantages. — Steve Liesman, CNBC, 17 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1591, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing pressing

• flesh-pressing

Rhymes for pressing

• blessing
• dressing
• guessing
• messing
• stressing
• accessing
• addressing
• assessing
• caressing
• compressing
• confessing
• depressing

Kids Definition

pressing

adjective

press·​ing ˈpres-iŋ 

: needing one's immediate attention

a pressing issue

pressingly

-iŋ-lē 

adverb