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.

"We therefore underscore the urgent need for the evaluation of these health impacts."

From Science Daily • May 13, 2026

The UK's leading baby-safety charity and an MP have written to the health secretary calling for "urgent action" to regulate the infant-sleep industry, following a BBC investigation.

From BBC • May 12, 2026

"China has repeatedly made clear its solemn position. The most urgent task is to do everything to avoid the resumption of conflict, not to use the conflict to... maliciously smear other countries."

From Barron's • May 11, 2026

The navigation officer was on the bridge radioing the Iranian navy a question that had become maddeningly repetitive and desperately urgent: When would the ship be able to leave?

From The Wall Street Journal • May 9, 2026

Moreover, I still felt the urgent need to gain more distance.

From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo

Vocabulary lists containing urgent

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