adj
Common
pressing
PREH-sihng
Pressing (adj) means requiring immediate attention; urgent. Example: “Fixing the leaking roof is the most pressing problem for the family.”
adj
1
Requiring immediate attention; urgent.
"Fixing the leaking roof is the most pressing problem for the family."
"There are more pressing matters to deal with first."
"A pressing deadline forced them to work through the night."
noun
1
The act of smoothing wrinkles from fabric with an iron or press.
"Give the shirt a quick pressing before you pack it in your suitcase."
"The dry cleaner charges extra for the pressing of delicate dresses."
"The suit needed a good pressing before the interview."
How to use pressing
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishUrgent and needing attention right away, or the act of ironing out fabric.
Common pairings
pressing issue
pressing need
a quick pressing
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Word forms
- Plural
- pressings
- Comparative
- more pressing
- Superlative
- most pressing
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Fixing the leaking roof is the most _____ problem for the family.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for pressing
Messing
Lessing
blessing
dressing
guessing
assessing
caressing
processing
expressing
addressing
depressing
witnessing
See all rhymes for 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.
