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 group said those funds could be used for more pressing issues like community services, and that’s why the city’s residents should get to vote on it. — Dylan Lysen, Kansas City Star, 2 July 2026

Still, British politics could become a more pressing concern for the bond market with Burnham at the helm. — Anna Cooban, CNN Money, 25 June 2026

While all help is welcome, the most pressing needs right now are for medical supplies, diapers and baby formula. — Veronica Ortega, CBS News, 28 June 2026

The most pressing problem right now is the absence of Judge, whose timeline to return from a right rib stress fracture remains uncertain. — Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 29 June 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