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

This category is broad and urgent—people are dealing with stress, sleep disorders, focus issues, and more. —Tanya Benedicto Klich, Forbes.com, 25 May 2025

Here's why and what happened CT officials issue urgent plea for help stopping ‘a plague’ in state waterways. —Staff Reports, Hartford Courant, 24 May 2025

That approach is taking place during another kind of urgent reckoning, propelled by the Trump administration’s assault on civil rights, which has been targeting diversity, equity and inclusion programs and policies established in the wake of Floyd’s murder. —Greg Braxton, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2025

Although his contract technically expires in 2027, Arsenal hold an option for an additional year and do not consider the situation urgent. —James McNicholas, New York Times, 22 May 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