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

That might look like sitting back with a good book, but there is a lot to learn from these quieter moments, too, especially if your book of choice cuts to the heart of some of fashion’s most pressing issues. — Sophie Lou Wilson, Vogue, 12 Aug. 2026

Textile waste — which includes manufacturing remnants, unwanted clothes and linens, and unsold products — is one of the industry’s most pressing challenges. — Anne D’innocenzio, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2026

Securing those additions, though, is secondary to the more pressing need to build and develop a strong starting XI, an area in which Carrick has made significant progress. — Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 9 Aug. 2026

When a leader treats every incoming request as urgent or pressing, their own priorities get whatever time is left, which is usually the tired end of the day. — Cynthia Pong, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 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