urgent

adjective

ur·​gent ˈər-jənt 

1

a

: calling for immediate attention : pressing

urgent appeals

an urgent need

b

: conveying a sense of urgency

2

: urging insistently : importunate

urgently adverb

Synonyms

• acute
• burning
• clamant
• compelling
• critical
• crying
• dire
• emergent
• exigent
• imperative
• imperious
• importunate
• instant
• necessitous
• pressing

Examples of urgent in a Sentence

We've come to deliver an urgent message.

an urgent appeal for assistance

He addressed us in an urgent manner.

An urgent voice came over the intercom, telling us to leave the building immediately.

Recent Examples on the Web

The vet advised going to the ER, where staff treated it as an urgent case due to potential heart issues. —Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 June 2025

If a passenger or crew member requires urgent medical attention that cannot be managed onboard, the captain may divert the ship to the nearest port with adequate facilities. —David Nikel, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025

As Donald Trump was convening an emergency meeting of his National Security Council to discuss the increasingly urgent developments in the Middle East, Vice President JD Vance was meeting with Republicans on Capitol Hill. —Noah Rothman, National Review, 18 June 2025

After 17 years and five books, 'The Hunger Games' feel as urgent as everNeed a break? —Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 17 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin urgent-, urgens, present participle of urgēre

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing urgent

• urgent care

Rhymes for urgent

• serjeant
• convergent
• detergent
• divergent
• emergent
• insurgent
• resurgent

Kids Definition

urgent

adjective

ur·​gent ˈər-jənt 

1

a

: calling for immediate attention : pressing

an urgent need for food

b

: indicating an urgent desire or need

an urgent manner

2

: urging very earnestly

urgently adverb