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.

And on Monday, the ship operator said two crew members — one British, one Dutch — had acute respiratory symptoms, one mild and one severe but both requiring urgent medical care.

From Los Angeles Times • May 4, 2026

One passenger is in intensive care in Johannesburg and two others "require urgent medical care", the statement said.

From Barron's • May 4, 2026

These therapies can also be expensive and may trigger immune-related side effects, underscoring the urgent need for safer, more affordable options that can slow the disease.

From Science Daily • May 4, 2026

In practice, it is gumming up urgent upgrades.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 3, 2026

In the middle of the night, Jinjoo woke to the urgent sound of someone frantically knocking on their door.

From "Finding Junie Kim" by Ellen Oh

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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