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urgency
/ˈɜːdʒənsi/
a strong need for immediate action
The doctor emphasized the urgency of the surgery.
The situation required immediate medical attention.
formalinformal
the quality of being urgent or requiring immediate attention
The team worked with urgency to meet the deadline.
They prioritized the task due to its time-sensitive nature.
The news report highlighted the urgency of climate action.
It stressed the need for immediate environmental measures.
Often used in contexts where time is a critical factor.
Collocations
a sense of urgencya feeling that something must be done quicklyact with urgencyto take immediate actionincrease urgencyto make something more pressing
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Context Matters
Use 'urgency' when emphasizing the need for immediate action, not just speed.
Gold Rule
Avoid Overuse
Reserve 'urgency' for situations where immediate action is truly necessary.
Word Origin
From Middle French 'urgence', from Latin 'urgentia', from 'urgens' (urgent), present participle of 'urgere' (to press, urge).
Usage Notes
Can be used in both formal and informal contexts, often in professional or critical situations.
Word Breakdown
urg
to press or urge
root-ency
quality or state of
suffixEnglish Dictionary