urgent
/ˈəːdʒ(ə)nt
/adjective
1Requiring immediate action or attention: an urgent demand for more state funding...
- Mr. Wright concluded that there was nothing urgent requiring immediate attention.
- The question of professional refereeing is an urgent issue that needs immediate attention.
- These are the urgent issues that need attention, with special reference also to gender.
Synonyms
acute, grave, pressing, dire, desperate, critical, crucial, sore, serious, intense, crying, burning, compelling, drastic, extreme;
life-and-death, great, very great, terrible
archaic or humorous parlous
2(Of an action or event) done or arranged in response to an urgent situation: she needs urgent treatment...
- I don't think I have anything to do that has an urgent deadline or immediately requires my attention.
- The child required urgent medical attention but did not develop long term adverse effects.
- The temples require urgent restoration by skilled craftsmen who work on heritage structures.
Synonyms
emergency, high-priority, top-priority, important, vital, crucial;
hurried, rushed, hasty, fast, quick, rapid, swift
North American informal hurry-up
2.1(Of a person or their manner) earnest and persistent: an urgent whisper...
- He was urgent, almost angry, in his passion and the whole thing left me feeling unfulfilled.
- The tone of your letter can be folksy and conversational or urgent and earnest.
Synonyms
insistent, persistent, determined, resolute, tenacious, obstinate, dogged, pressing, unrelenting;
importunate, demanding, earnest, entreating, pleading, begging, clamorous;
repeated, unremitting, continuous, incessant
rare exigent
Origin
Late 15th century: from Old French, from Latin urgent- 'pressing, driving', from the verb urgere (see urge).
This word comes via Old French, from Latin urgere ‘press, drive’, which also gave us urge (mid 16th century).
Rhymes
- photodimer
- photodimeric
- photodimerisation
- photodimerise
- photodimerization
- photodimerize
- photodiode
- photodisintegration
- photodissociable
- photodissociate
- photodissociation
- photodrama
- photodrome
- photoduplicate
- photoduplicating
- photoduplication
- photodynamic
- photodynamical
- photodynamically
- photodynamics
- photodynamic therapy
- photoeffect
- photoejection
- photoelastic
- photoelasticity