✨📕 The NEWThe NEW Collegiate Dictionary, 12th Edition Over 5,000 words added — Buy Now! Collegiate DictionaryBuy Now!

urgent

adjective

ur·​gent ˈər-jənt How to pronounce urgent (audio)
Synonyms of urgentnext
1
a
: calling for immediate attention : pressing
urgent appeals
problems of an urgent nature
an urgent need
b
: conveying a sense of urgency
an urgent voice
2
: urging insistently : importunate
an urgent lover
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.
Slow down when a message feels urgent or unexpected. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 29 Nov. 2025 These numbers highlight the urgent need for sustained government action to address both environmental and public health challenges. Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2025 Regulators issued an urgent directive to Airbus A320 operators on Friday, warning that the planes require a software update. Zach Wichter, USA Today, 28 Nov. 2025 Air passengers may soon feel like their aircraft need the same annoying, urgent updates their phones demand at the worst possible time. Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 28 Nov. 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Urgent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/urgent. Accessed 5 Dec. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!