urgent

[ur-juhnt] / ˈɜr dʒənt /

ADJECTIVE

needing immediate attention

Synonyms

STRONGEST

compelling critical crucial demanding essential immediate imperative important indispensable necessary persuasive pressing serious vital weighty

WEAK

burning called-for capital chief clamant clamorous crying demanded driving exigent foremost heavy hurry-up impelling importunate insistent instant leading life and death momentous paramount primary principal required salient top-priority touch and go touchy wanted

Antonyms

STRONGEST

easy facile inessential insignificant light minor needless nonessential optional secondary small trivial uncritical unimportant unnecessary unsubstantial voluntary

WEAK

moderate

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“Consequently, there is an urgent need for more effective treatment approaches that provide durable benefit for a greater number of patients.”

From MarketWatch • Jun. 1, 2026

On the day the fire erupted, amid increasingly urgent forecasts of high wind warnings, the mayor was away on a diplomatic trip to Ghana.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 1, 2026

Fundamentally, the feeling is that the next phase demands a front-foot, aggressive and urgent style of football, and that Slot is not the man for that.

From BBC • May 30, 2026

The agency will now treat Replimune’s RP1 as ‘an urgent matter.’

From The Wall Street Journal • May 29, 2026

Her mom and dad took her to an urgent care place last night, and it turns out Madeline was right.

From "How to Disappear Completely" by Ali Standish

Vocabulary lists containing urgent

A Long Walk to Water

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List 7

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