urgency

noun

Definition of urgencynext
as in gravity
the condition of being very important and needing immediate attention The urgency of the situation meant that we needed to start right away.

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of urgency There was no connectivity, no creativity, no sustained possession, no urgency or poise on the back line. — Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 7 July 2026 Newport Institute frames it as a low barrier mental health entry point, not a substitute for therapy but an easy first step for anyone feeling overwhelmed by constant urgency. — Allison Palmer july 7, Charlotte Observer, 7 July 2026 Our Revolution endorsed Jackson in the Senate race by Tuesday afternoon, punctuating its support with a call for urgency. — David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 7 July 2026 Steve was there for that, talking to me with an intense urgency and telling me, Magic is real. — Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 6 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for urgency
Recent Examples of Synonyms for urgency
  1. gravity
  2. magnitude
  3. importance
  4. exigency
  5. significance
  6. insistence
  7. seriousness
Noun
  • Understanding the gravity of a red flag warning and adhering to these precautions is paramount in averting wildfires during these perilous conditions.
    — CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 14 July 2026
  • The miniature ones are small enough that the gravity doesn’t affect them in that way.
    — Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 14 July 2026
Definition of gravity
Noun
  • Staging an event of this magnitude has required extensive coordination between federal, state, and local authorities.
    — Daniel Ross Goodman, The Washington Examiner, 11 July 2026
  • That said, the magnitude of impact will always vary by organization and context.
    — Frank Carnevale, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
Definition of magnitude
Noun
  • Smith’s grandmother, Angela Perdew, emphasized the importance of fireworks safety when speaking with WMC.
    — Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 10 July 2026
  • Advertisement The first inkling of recalibration came when tech bros suddenly started emphasizing the importance of taste.
    — Miranda Shanahan, Time, 10 July 2026
Definition of importance
Noun
  • Potential finalists will be notified via email and will be required to complete and return an Affidavit of Eligibility, License of Work and Release of Liability/Publicity within three (3) days of date of notification, or a shorter time if required by exigencies, or a runner-up may be selected.
    — Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 25 June 2026
  • The exigencies of the Revolution lead to promising more people representation.
    — KEN BURNS, Rolling Stone, 19 May 2026
Definition of exigency
Noun
  • This concert will take place at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and already has fans speculating whether Beyoncé might make an appearance given the significance of the date.
    — Caché McClay, USA Today, 11 July 2026
  • The ceasefire framework explicitly designates Iran and Oman to negotiate the strategic waterway’s future management, giving Araghchi’s visit to Muscat particular significance.
    — Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 11 July 2026
Definition of significance
Noun
  • In the majority’s view, this must be read broadly to achieve the declaration’s insistence on rights and equality.
    — Morgan Marietta, The Conversation, 30 June 2026
  • Steve Tew, district attorney for Ouachita and Morehouse parishes, has never wavered in his insistence that Duncan was guilty of murder and that he should be put to death.
    — Richard A. Webster, ProPublica, 29 June 2026
Definition of insistence
Noun
  • External context should be treated as infrastructure, with the same seriousness that organizations apply to data quality and model governance.
    — Campbell Brown, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
  • Rage deserves to be treated with the same seriousness now finally being extended to other menopause symptoms.
    — Dr. Sarah Berg, Time, 9 July 2026
Definition of seriousness

Browse Nearby Words

urgencies
urgency
urgent
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Urgency.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/urgency. Accessed 16 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on urgency

Nglish: Translation of urgency for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of bibelot

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
child-detective
Spot the Misspelled Word July 2026 Those little red underlines can't help you now...
See All