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.
In Season 4, each staff member of The Bear does their part to try to help the fine dining spot survive after a negative review in the Chicago Tribune added extra urgency to their already major financial problems. Selome Hailu, Variety, 28 June 2025 To motivate yourself, set a clear deadline to add structure and urgency, which mobilizes action and reduces overthinking. Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025 Local photographers documented the nuances of daily life in Cairo with intimacy and urgency, while international artists added new dimensions to the conversation, enriching the global context without overshadowing the local. Daniel Rodríguez Gordillo, Vogue, 26 June 2025 There are big emotional talks that need to be had, and there’s a literal ticking clock on his restaurant’s solvency, which add dramatic heft and a dash of that old urgency, respectively, to Carmy’s 10-episode deliberation. Ben Travers, IndieWire, 26 June 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Urgency.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/urgency. Accessed 3 Jul. 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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