urgency

noun

ur·​gen·​cy ˈər-jən(t)-sē How to pronounce urgency (audio)
plural urgencies
1
: the quality or state of being urgent : insistence
2
: a force or impulse that impels or constrains : urge

Examples of urgency in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web There was something refreshing about a text that didn’t need to be perfect, that came from a place of urgency. Jillian Steinhauer, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2024 Its casino-style marketing includes limited time sales that create a sense of urgency. Shira Ovide, Washington Post, 12 Mar. 2024 There can be a sense of urgency in the classical-education world—a feeling that whole generations have been lost, and that the next must be saved. Emma Green, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024 There’s a sense of urgency to the game, which offers clues to the motivations of those who built and distributed it. Alison Herman, Variety, 9 Mar. 2024 After 26 years without a domestic national security law, the sudden sense of urgency was clear among legislators. Alan Wong, Fortune Asia, 9 Mar. 2024 The Warriors’ intensity ramped up in the fourth, but shooting 26.2% from behind the 3-point arc requires an immense, persistent level of urgency to conquer. Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 8 Mar. 2024 With the legal case proceeding, legislative efforts have taken on a sense of urgency. The Indianapolis Star, 6 Mar. 2024 The ads give a false sense of urgency where there really is none. Journal Sentinel, 5 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'urgency.' 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

1540, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of urgency was in 1540

Dictionary Entries Near urgency

Cite this Entry

“Urgency.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/urgency. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

urgency

noun
ur·​gen·​cy ˈər-jən-sē How to pronounce urgency (audio)
: the quality or state of being urgent

Medical Definition

urgency

noun
ur·​gen·​cy ˈər-jən-sē How to pronounce urgency (audio)
plural urgencies
: a sudden compelling need to urinate or defecate
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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