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 The platforms say deterring these groups is an urgent priority. Chris Dehghanpoor, Washington Post, 13 Mar. 2024 The lack of enough involuntary beds also means that people who are a danger to themselves and others can be discharged from urgent psychiatric crisis care before getting a bed at Valleywise. The Arizona Republic, 13 Mar. 2024 Industry leaders are calling for urgent action from the Healey administration and the Legislature to help stem the crisis. Jon Chesto — Boston Globe, STAT, 12 Mar. 2024 As the photo of her and her three smiling children started to circulate online, the Associated Press and other wire services issued an urgent notification to journalists not to use the image in editorial articles, suspecting the photo might be digitally altered. Reece Rogers, WIRED, 12 Mar. 2024 Without these urgent steps, Ukraine’s rationing of ammunition will continue through the spring and summer. Dara Massicot, Foreign Affairs, 8 Mar. 2024 That doesn’t mean that drones like the Vampire make Ukraine’s urgent need for artillery shells any less desperate. Scott Peterson, The Christian Science Monitor, 8 Mar. 2024 For the Warriors, there’s nothing more urgent than making up ground. Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 8 Mar. 2024 In another ward of the hospital, a patient was struggling with kidney failure and in urgent need of a transplant. Brian Murphy, Washington Post, 2 Mar. 2024

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

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

Dictionary Entries Near urgent

Cite this Entry

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

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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