If something is urgent, it needs to be dealt with as soon as possible.
There is an urgent need for food and water.
He had urgent business in New York.
Synonyms: crucial [informal], desperate, pressing, great More Synonyms of urgent
urgencyuncountable noun
The urgency of finding a cure attracted some of the best minds in medical science. [+ of]
It is a matter of utmost urgency.
Synonyms: importance, need, necessity, gravity More Synonyms of urgent
urgentlyadverb [ADVERB with verb]
Red Cross officials said they urgently needed bread and water.
The money was most urgently required.
2. adjective
If you speak in an urgent way, you show that you are anxious for people to notice something or to do something.
His voice was low and urgent.
His mother leaned forward and spoke to him in urgent undertones.
Synonyms: insistent, earnest, determined, intense More Synonyms of urgent
urgencyuncountable noun
She was surprised at the urgency in his voice. [+ in]
'Daniel,' Pat said, her voice harsh with urgency. 'Come out here immediately.'
urgentlyadverb [ADVERB with verb]
They hastened to greet him and asked urgently, 'Did you find it?'
urgent in British English
(ˈɜːdʒənt)
adjective
1.
requiring or compelling speedy action or attention
the matter is urgent
an urgent message
2.
earnest and persistent
Derived forms
urgency (ˈɜːdʒənsɪ)
noun
urgently (ˈurgently)
adverb
Word origin
C15: via French from Latin urgent-, urgens, present participle of urgēre to urge
urgent in American English
(ˈɜrdʒənt)
adjective
1.
calling for haste, immediate action, etc.; grave; pressing
2.
insistent; importunate
Derived forms
urgently (ˈurgently)
adverb
Word origin
LME < MFr < L urgens, prp. of urgere, to press hard, urge
Examples of 'urgent' in a sentence
urgent
We need urgent investment to continue to provide the quality of care people deserve.
The Sun (2017)
This also needs an urgent appointment with a brain specialist.
The Sun (2016)
The infrastructure of the whole system is in need of some urgent investment.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
This humanitarian crisis needs urgent action.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Given the skilful divers around, it certainly is an urgent matter.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The Government must take urgent action and commit to funding schools sufficiently.
The Sun (2017)
MPs warn that without urgent action, home ownership could become a preserve of the rich.
The Sun (2016)
If he comes in my direction I find something urgent to do out the back.
The Sun (2016)
Experts have warned of'catastrophic failure' in the next ten years without urgent action.
The Sun (2017)
Two needed urgent treatment but most had minor cuts and bruises.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
You need urgent medical attention because it can make you very ill very quickly.
The Sun (2016)
This is a matter of urgent national security.
The Sun (2016)
The service is in urgent need of reform.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
This is why urgent action must be taken.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Its basic pretext is that narrative is not enough when there is something urgent to say.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
They can be very distressing and need urgent medical attention.
The Sun (2015)
All the leaders acknowledge that the matter is exceedingly urgent.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Still has an urgent need for a right back.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
It is a wholly unsatisfactory situation and requires urgent action.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The home secretary needs to get an urgent grip of this case.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
These symptoms need urgent attention from your doc.
The Sun (2015)
It has the right to know the brutal details of a system in urgent need of reform.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
It called for urgent action to tackle the problem.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Are we the least bit urgent about getting that message out?
Christianity Today (2000)
These draw attention to urgent individual problems in the industry.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Such an increase would mean an increased exposure to radiation of populations whose health is a matter of urgent public policy.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The problems he had identified needed urgent action, he said.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
She'd walked a long way in search of a hospital and needed urgent help.
The Sun (2015)
Urgent as matters seem, pause for long enough to savour these.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
A significant proportion of those needed urgent surgery.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Unless there's something urgent happening.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
There's something deeper, something more urgent.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
An NHS England spokeswoman said the number of cancelled urgent ops remains low.
The Sun (2015)
In other languages
urgent
British English: urgent /ˈɜːdʒənt/ ADJECTIVE
If something is urgent, it needs to be dealt with as soon as possible.
...an urgent need for food and water.
American English: urgent
Arabic: عَاجِل
Brazilian Portuguese: urgente
Chinese: 紧急的
Croatian: hitan
Czech: naléhavý
Danish: presserende
Dutch: urgent
European Spanish: urgente
Finnish: kiireellinen
French: urgent
German: dringend
Greek: επείγων
Italian: urgente
Japanese: 緊急の
Korean: 긴급한
Norwegian: presserende
Polish: pilny
European Portuguese: urgente
Romanian: urgent
Russian: срочный
Latin American Spanish: urgente
Swedish: brådskande
Thai: ที่จำเป็นเร่งด่วน
Turkish: ivedi
Ukrainian: терміновий
Vietnamese: khẩn cấp
All related terms of 'urgent'
urgent task
A task is an activity or piece of work which you have to do, usually as part of a larger project.
urgent matter
A matter is a task , situation, or event which you have to deal with or think about, especially one that involves problems.
urgent review
A review of a situation or system is its formal examination by people in authority. This is usually done in order to see whether it can be improved or corrected .
urgent inquiry
An inquiry is an official investigation .
urgent meeting
A meeting is an event in which a group of people come together to discuss things or make decisions .
urgent priority
If something is a priority , it is the most important thing you have to do or deal with, or must be done or dealt with before everything else you have to do.
urgent appointment
If you have an appointment with someone, you have arranged to see them at a particular time, usually in connection with their work or for a serious purpose.
urgent assistance
If you give someone assistance , you help them do a job or task by doing part of the work for them.
urgent requirement
Your requirements are the things that you need.
urgent treatment
Treatment is medical attention given to a sick or injured person or animal.
Chinese translation of 'urgent'
urgent
(ˈəːdʒənt)
adj
[letter, message etc]紧(緊)急的 (jǐnjí de)
[need, voice]急迫的 (jípò de)
1 (adjective)
Definition
requiring speedy action or attention
There is an urgent need for food and water.
Synonyms
crucial (informal)
the most crucial election campaign in years
desperate
Troops are needed to get food to people in desperate need.
pressing
There is a pressing need for more funds.
great
his pronouncements on the great political matters of the age
important
an important economic challenge to the government
crying
critical
The incident happened at a critical point in the campaign.
immediate
The immediate problem is not lack of food, but transportation.
acute
The war aggravated an acute economic crisis.
grave
He says the situation in his country is very grave.
instant
compelling
Another, probably more compelling, factor is that of safety.
imperative
It's imperative to know your rights at such a time.
top-priority
now or never
exigent
not to be delayed
Opposites
minor
,
trivial
,
unimportant
,
low-priority
2 (adjective)
Definition
earnest and forceful
His mother leaned forward and spoke to him in urgent undertones.
Synonyms
insistent
He is most insistent on this point.
earnest
Despite their earnest efforts, they failed to win support.
determined
He is making a determined effort to regain lost ground.
intense
Her reaction to the news was more intense than I had imagined.
persistent
He phoned again this morning – he's very persistent.
persuasive
a persuasive argument against reform
resolute
a decisive and resolute international leader
clamorous
importunate (formal)
My receptionist shielded me from importunate visitors.
Opposites
casual
,
apathetic
,
lackadaisical
,
weak
,
feeble
,
perfunctory
,
half-hearted
Additional synonyms
in the sense of acute
Definition
(of a disease) sudden and severe
The war aggravated an acute economic crisis.
Synonyms
serious,
important,
dangerous,
critical,
crucial (informal),
alarming,
severe,
grave,
sudden,
urgent,
decisive
in the sense of compelling
Another, probably more compelling, factor is that of safety.
Synonyms
pressing,
binding,
urgent,
overriding,
imperative,
unavoidable,
coercive,
peremptory
in the sense of critical
Definition
very important or dangerous
The incident happened at a critical point in the campaign.
Synonyms
crucial,
decisive,
momentous,
deciding,
pressing,
serious,
vital,
psychological,
urgent,
all-important,
pivotal,
high-priority,
now or never
Synonyms of 'urgent'
urgent
Explore 'urgent' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of desperate
Definition
very grave
Troops are needed to get food to people in desperate need.
Synonyms
grave,
great,
pressing,
serious,
critical,
acute,
severe,
extreme,
urgent,
dire,
drastic,
very grave
in the sense of determined
Definition
firmly decided
He is making a determined effort to regain lost ground.
Synonyms
resolute,
firm,
dogged,
fixed,
constant,
bold,
intent,
persistent,
relentless,
stalwart,
persevering,
single-minded,
purposeful,
tenacious,
undaunted,
strong-willed,
steadfast,
unwavering,
immovable,
unflinching,
strong-minded
in the sense of earnest
Definition
serious and sincere, often excessively so
Despite their earnest efforts, they failed to win support.
Synonyms
determined,
firm,
dogged,
constant,
urgent,
intent,
persistent,
ardent,
persevering,
resolute,
heartfelt,
zealous,
vehement,
wholehearted
in the sense of exigent
Synonyms
urgent,
pressing,
necessary,
critical,
crucial (informal),
acute,
imperative,
constraining,
insistent,
needful,
importunate (formal)
in the sense of grave
Definition
serious and solemn in appearance or behaviour
He says the situation in his country is very grave.
Synonyms
serious,
important,
significant,
critical,
pressing,
threatening,
dangerous,
vital,
crucial (informal),
acute,
severe,
urgent,
hazardous,
life-and-death,
momentous,
perilous,
weighty,
leaden,
of great consequence
in the sense of great
his pronouncements on the great political matters of the age
Synonyms
important,
serious,
significant,
critical,
crucial (informal),
heavy,
grave,
momentous,
weighty,
consequential,
GR8
in the sense of immediate
Definition
present
The immediate problem is not lack of food, but transportation.
Synonyms
current,
present,
pressing,
existing,
actual,
urgent,
on hand,
extant
in the sense of imperative
Definition
extremely urgent
It's imperative to know your rights at such a time.
Synonyms
urgent,
essential,
pressing,
vital,
crucial (informal),
compulsory,
indispensable,
obligatory,
exigent
in the sense of important
Definition
of great significance, value, or consequence
an important economic challenge to the government
Synonyms
significant,
critical,
substantial,
grave,
urgent,
serious,
material,
signal,
primary,
meaningful,
far-reaching,
momentous,
seminal,
weighty,
of substance,
salient,
noteworthy
in the sense of importunate
Definition
persistent or demanding
My receptionist shielded me from importunate visitors.
Synonyms
persistent,
demanding,
pressing,
dogged,
earnest,
troublesome,
insistent,
solicitous,
clamorous,
exigent,
pertinacious,
clamant
Additional synonyms
in the sense of intense
Definition
characterized by deep or forceful feelings
Her reaction to the news was more intense than I had imagined.
Synonyms
passionate,
burning,
earnest,
emotional,
keen,
flaming,
consuming,
fierce,
eager,
enthusiastic,
heightened,
energetic,
animated,
ardent,
fanatical,
fervent,
heartfelt,
impassioned,
vehement,
forcible,
fervid
in the sense of persistent
Definition
showing persistence
He phoned again this morning – he's very persistent.