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

Be especially suspicious if someone creates urgency and then asks you to click a link, provide account information or move money. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 25 Sep. 2026

One of the novel’s sharpest scenes comes when Ellen calls and Ruby, hearing urgency in her voice, runs automatically through the house to find better signal. — Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2026

Their push takes on a new urgency when Cleo (Fisher) moves to town and becomes hell-bent on reaching 1960s Paris to become Jean-Luc Godard’s muse. — Brent Lang, IndieWire, 24 Sep. 2026

And Building For The Future Cuts to nonprofit funding, combined with rising community needs and a loneliness epidemic, have created both urgency and opportunity. — Jennifer Sirangelo, Forbes.com, 24 Sep. 2026

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