Definitions

pressing

[pres-ing] / ˈprɛs ɪŋ /

ADJECTIVE

important; urgent

Synonyms

STRONGEST

acute compelling critical crucial demanding dire immediate imperative insistent serious vital

STRONG

burning claiming constraining crying distressing exacting forcing instant obliging requiring

WEAK

clamant clamorous exigent heat-on high-priority hurry-up importunate life-and-death

Antonyms

STRONGEST

dull inessential optional trivial uncritical unimportant

WEAK

insignificant

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.

“You have some tough decision s to make,” Epstein messaged her in November when she didn’t get a reply from Gates on her proposal, pressing her to use a stronger approach.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 8, 2026

Her message was a far cry from the pressing one U.S.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 7, 2026

Besides, investors have more pressing areas to focus on.

From Barron's • Jun. 3, 2026

To open a window, the driver simply asked the car’s digital assistant, rather than pressing a button—the kind of feature that is standard in newer Chinese cars.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 2, 2026

I feel the Star of David pressing into my skin.

From "Across So Many Seas" by Ruth Behar

Vocabulary lists containing pressing

Trash

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Lesson 11

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Important

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