pressing
8 synonyms and 2 antonyms for pressing, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Requiring immediate attention; urgent.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. adj
Requiring immediate attention; urgent.
“Fixing the leaking roof is the most pressing problem for the family.”
Opposites
How to use pressing
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
pressing issue
pressing need
a quick pressing
Frequently asked questions
What does “pressing” mean?
The word “pressing” means requiring immediate attention; urgent. In plain terms, urgent and needing attention right away, or the act of ironing out fabric.
How do you pronounce “pressing”?
“Pressing” is pronounced PREH-sihng (/ˈpɹɛsɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “pressing” in a sentence?
Here is “pressing” used in a sentence: “There are more pressing matters to deal with first.”
What part of speech is “pressing”?
Depending on how it is used, “pressing” can be an adjective and a noun.
Is “pressing” a common word?
“Pressing” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “pressing” have?
“Pressing” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: requiring immediate attention; urgent.
What is the difference between pressing and urgent?
Both describe something requiring immediate attention, and in most sentences they are interchangeable. Urgent is the stronger, more everyday word, often tied to emergencies, while pressing is slightly more formal and suggests a matter that keeps demanding your attention, as in "a pressing engagement" or "pressing questions."
What is the difference between pressing and ironing?
In everyday speech both mean smoothing wrinkles from fabric with an iron. In sewing and tailoring, however, ironing means sliding the iron back and forth across the cloth, while pressing means lifting the iron and setting it down on one area at a time, which smooths the fabric without stretching it.
