noun
Uncommon
urgency
UR-juhn-see
Urgency (noun) means the quality of needing immediate attention or action. Example: “The tone of her email conveyed real urgency.”
noun
1
The quality of needing immediate attention or action.
"The tone of her email conveyed real urgency."
"There's no urgency — we can deal with this next week."
"The paramedic spoke with urgency, telling everyone to clear the road immediately."
How to use urgency
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishHow pressing or time-critical something is.
Common pairings
a sense of urgency
act with urgency
lack of urgency
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like urgency.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- urgencies
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The tone of her email conveyed real _____.
Etymology
From urgent + -ency.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for urgency
agency
latency
potency
decency
regency
currency
tendency
clemency
leniency
frequency
emergency
residency
See all rhymes for 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.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include urgency:
