urgency

noun

ur·​gen·​cy ˈər-jən(t)-sē How to pronounce urgency (audio)
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
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.
Advertisement This urgency is real. Scott Ellis, Time, 17 Oct. 2025 Stepping to the ball and filling space with urgency is necessary to win. Joe Boylan, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025 The question is whether European governments will match that commitment with procurement reform and the urgency this moment demands. Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2025 As the federal presence in Chicago has increased, Worthington told me that the conversation among the protesters at Broadview has shifted, from how to respond with urgency to how to sustain their efforts. Geraldo Cadava, New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for urgency

Word History

First Known Use

1540, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of urgency was in 1540

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Cite this Entry

“Urgency.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/urgency. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

urgency

noun
ur·​gen·​cy ˈər-jən-sē How to pronounce urgency (audio)
: the quality or state of being urgent

Medical Definition

urgency

noun
ur·​gen·​cy ˈər-jən-sē How to pronounce urgency (audio)
plural urgencies
: a sudden compelling need to urinate or defecate

More from Merriam-Webster on urgency

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