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
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.
This highlights the urgent need for tailored marketing support. Chris Gallagher, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025 The net result is a flurry of headlines and viral social media posts followed by an urgent platform update. Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025 Without urgent intervention, many of these children are likely to die within months, experts told me. Hana Kiros, The Atlantic, 17 Apr. 2025 With visible emotion, Morin's mother, Patty Morin, spoke as a special guest at Wednesday’s press briefing at the White House, sharing personal testimony about the urgent need to remove criminal migrants from the country. Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 17 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for urgent

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Urgent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/urgent. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

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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