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.

In the third week of May, nothing is urgent.

From Los Angeles Times • May 19, 2026

The findings point to an urgent need for strategies aimed at slowing oxygen loss in freshwater ecosystems.

From Science Daily • May 17, 2026

Martin said that canceling the event sends the wrong message and called on Mayor Rex Richardson and City Council members to take urgent action and let the festival go on.

From Los Angeles Times • May 16, 2026

But she said "external specialists can bring experience, specialist skills, and the ability to put large teams in place quickly, which can be particularly important for urgent national programmes".

From BBC • May 14, 2026

These four pictures seemed oldest, and somehow more urgent.

From "Healer of the Water Monster" by Brian Young

Vocabulary lists containing urgent

A Long Walk to Water

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List 7

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Bud, Not Buddy

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