urgent care

noun

1

: medical care provided for illnesses or injuries which require prompt attention but are typically not of such seriousness as to require the services of an emergency room

… they have turned to one of the fastest-growing segments of American health care: urgent care, a common category of walk-in clinics with uncommon interest from Wall Street.

—Julie Creswell

—often used before another noun

If your leg or arm is sore and swollen, go to an urgent care center; if you have chest pain, shortness of breath or you're coughing up blood, get to an emergency room.

—Rick Nathanson

The athlete sustains an inversion or eversion ankle injury and is evaluated at a local emergency room or urgent care facility.

—James S. Keene

2

: medical care of an urgent nature

Strokes now are the focus of a broad new public-awareness campaign labeling them as "brain attacks," needing the same urgent care as heart attacks.

—Marilyn Chase

Examples of urgent care in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Jackson Health is one of the largest public health systems in the nation, with seven hospitals, several urgent care centers, and — soon — one of the largest ERs in the nation. —Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 25 Mar. 2026

Unitex recently signed a contract with Hartford HealthCare, the parent of Hartford Hospital and seven others in Connecticut, that not only covers the hospitals but a constellation of affiliated services at other locations, including about 50 urgent care centers. —Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 25 Mar. 2026

If symptoms develop, people should call their doctor, urgent care or hospital before seeking treatment. —Natalie Davies, Freep.com, 21 Mar. 2026

Those in need of medical care should call their doctor, urgent care or emergency department before arriving to help limit additional exposures. —Katie Langford, Denver Post, 19 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1973, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for urgent care

• aftercare
• anywhere
• billionaire
• chinaware
• debonair
• dinnerware
• disrepair
• doctrinaire
• earthenware
• everywhere
• frigidaire
• kitchenware