pressing

1 of 2

adjective

press·​ing ˈpre-siŋ 

1

: urgently important : critical

a pressing issue

2

: earnest, warm

pressingly

ˈpre-siŋ-lē 

adverb

pressing

2 of 2

present participle of press entry 2, press entry 3

Synonyms of pressing

Adjective

• urgent
• acute

Examples of pressing in a Sentence

Adjective

a pressing need for reform

she had pressing business on the other side of town

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Twenty-two percent cited forecast accuracy and supplier delays as equally pressing. — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 25 Aug. 2026

However, experts say that won’t result in operational missiles soon — or address Ukraine’s most pressing needs in its war against Russia’s full-scale invasion. — Sylvia Hui, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2026

However, experts say that won't result in operational missiles soon — or address Ukraine's most pressing needs in its war against Russia's full-scale invasion. — ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026

But look even a little closely, and this proposal does a lot to address many of the most pressing issues with current MLS regular season and postseason competition. — Ian Nicholas Quillen, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

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