urgency
6 synonyms and 0 antonyms for urgency, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The quality of needing immediate attention or action.
Synonyms
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.
How to use urgency
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From urgent + -ency.
Full origin of urgency →Frequently asked questions
What does “urgency” mean?
The word “urgency” means the quality of needing immediate attention or action. In plain terms, how pressing or time-critical something is.
How do you pronounce “urgency”?
“Urgency” is pronounced UR-juhn-see (/ˈɝ.d͡ʒən.si/ in IPA).
How do you use “urgency” in a sentence?
Here is “urgency” used in a sentence: “The tone of her email conveyed real urgency.”
What is another word for “urgency”?
Words with a similar meaning to “urgency” include exigency and clamancy.
What part of speech is “urgency”?
“Urgency” is a noun.
Is “urgency” a common word?
“Urgency” is an uncommon word in modern English.
What is the difference between urgency and importance?
Urgency refers to the quality of needing immediate attention or action, focused on timing. Importance refers to how significant or valuable something is, regardless of when it needs to be addressed. A task can be important without being urgent, and urgent without being especially important.
How do you create a sense of urgency in writing?
Writers create a sense of urgency by emphasizing deadlines, consequences of delay, or immediate needs, often using short sentences, active verbs, and time-sensitive language. This technique is common in marketing, emergency communications, and calls to action.
Is urgency a formal or everyday word?
Urgency is used in both formal and everyday English, appearing in business communications, medical contexts, and casual conversation alike to describe the pressing nature of a situation.