urgent

adjective

ur·​gent ˈər-jənt How to pronounce urgent (audio)
1
a
: calling for immediate attention : pressing
urgent appeals
an urgent need
b
: conveying a sense of urgency
2
: urging insistently : importunate
urgently adverb

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
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.
Democratic lawmakers say extending enhanced premium tax credits is urgent, with open enrollment weeks away. Selena Simmons-Duffin, NPR, 4 Oct. 2025 Faster escalation paths to address urgent safety concerns. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 4 Oct. 2025 The song is a take on the penultimate track from Tinashe’s 2024 album Quantum Baby, with the Disco Lines collab dialing up the BPM, adding an urgent synth production and loading up the track with bright and bouncy electronic flourishes. Katie Bain, Billboard, 3 Oct. 2025 The need for aspiring tech workers to gain more AI skills is also becoming more urgent. Jordan Blum, Fortune, 3 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for urgent

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of urgent was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Urgent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/urgent. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

urgent

adjective
ur·​gent ˈər-jənt How to pronounce urgent (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on urgent

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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