urgency

noun

ur·​gen·​cy ˈər-jən(t)-sē 

plural urgencies

1

: the quality or state of being urgent : insistence

2

: a force or impulse that impels or constrains : urge

Examples of urgency in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

What Makes Sticky Content Stand Out From Viral Content Viral content touches a nerve in a moment of urgency or confusion. —Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025

That just provided a bit of urgency to the whole thing. —Michael Schneider, Variety, 22 May 2025

Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami teammates headed to Philadelphia with a palpable sense of urgency to defeat the first-place Union on Saturday, fueled, in part, by a players-only meeting Sunday night after the team’s 3-0 home loss to Orlando City. —Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 23 May 2025

The sense of urgency over shortages has risen now that rice crops have just been planted, with harvests several months away. —Mari Yamaguchi, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1540, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing urgency

• a matter of urgency/importance

Rhymes for urgency

• counterinsurgency
• emergency
• insurgency
• nonemergency

Kids Definition

urgency

noun

ur·​gen·​cy ˈər-jən-sē 

: the quality or state of being urgent

Medical Definition

urgency

noun

ur·​gen·​cy ˈər-jən-sē 

plural urgencies

: a sudden compelling need to urinate or defecate