pressing

adjective

press·​ing ˈpre-siŋ How to pronounce pressing (audio)
1
: urgently important : critical
a pressing issue
2
pressingly adverb

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
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.
For many Palestinians in Gaza, however, their most immediate needs – food, shelter, water – remain the most pressing. Kara Fox, CNN Money, 19 Oct. 2025 The job comes with an annual salary range of up to $315,967, plus benefits, and the new city manager will be expected to help address Brentwood’s most pressing issues, including the imbalance between jobs and housing and the long commute times residents face. Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 16 Oct. 2025 Andrew Cuomo, by contrast, has yet to present a detailed strategy for lowering the city’s cost of living, leaving Mamdani with the edge on one of the race’s most pressing issues. Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025 Ahead of this year’s trade deadline, the Dodgers’ most pressing need was for bullpen upgrades. Stephen J. Nesbitt, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pressing

Word History

First Known Use

1591, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pressing was in 1591

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pressing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pressing. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

pressing

adjective
press·​ing ˈpres-iŋ How to pronounce pressing (audio)
: needing one's immediate attention
a pressing issue
pressingly adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on pressing

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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