pressing

adjective

press·​ing ˈpre-siŋ How to pronounce pressing (audio)
1
: urgently important : critical
a pressing issue
2
pressingly adverb

Examples of pressing in a Sentence

a pressing need for reform she had pressing business on the other side of town
Recent Examples on the Web The Gallup poll showed 28% of respondents pointing to immigration as the most pressing problem in the country, up from 20% last month. USA TODAY, 29 Feb. 2024 Here are some of the most pressing issues raised by students, teachers, parents, community leaders and advocates. Lauren Lumpkin, Washington Post, 29 Feb. 2024 One is about distribution and the other about creation, but both have widespread material impacts on how people interact with these tools, our information ecosystem, and the most pressing issues in society. Sage Lazzaro, Fortune, 29 Feb. 2024 The demographic crisis has become one of Japan’s most pressing issues, with multiple governments failing to reverse the double blow of a falling fertility rate and swelling elderly population. Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 29 Feb. 2024 If sourcing talent is a more pressing issue, a firm might focus entirely on that and deal with the rest later. Pavel Shynkarenko, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024 Candidates discuss some of District 4’s most pressing issues including homelessness and access to parkland Show more sharing options Chula Vista’s City Council District 4 race got off-track this year when the incumbent seeking re-election, Andrea Cardenas, was charged with multiple felony counts. Tammy Murga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Feb. 2024 The question Buettner asked herself is growing more pressing for many Americans, who now live longer, frequently experience chronic illnesses that require years of caregiving, and are less likely to have kin to turn to in their old age. Rhaina Cohen, The Atlantic, 12 Feb. 2024 Storm recovery: This is our district’s most pressing issue right now. The San Diego Union-Tribune Staff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pressing.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1591, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pressing was in 1591

Dictionary Entries Near pressing

Cite this Entry

“Pressing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pressing. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

pressing

adjective
press·​ing ˈpres-iŋ How to pronounce pressing (audio)
: needing one's immediate attention
a pressing issue
pressingly adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on pressing

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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