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

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

Tomar, who was not involved with the CareQuest analysis, suggested the costs could go much higher because many families on Medicaid seek care at urgent care centers or hospital emergency departments. —Erika Edwards, NBC news, 19 Mar. 2026

In another email to city leaders, Cook said Halvorson’s choice of a primary care physician was denied, and the family was told to use a doctor with Concentra or CareNow, nationwide chains offering occupational health care and urgent care services. —Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Mar. 2026

In the video, a medic advised him to visit a nearby urgent care clinic for stitches. —Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 16 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