Words / B1

URJ-uh-nt/ˈɜːdʒənt/

Urgent means needing action now. An urgent message; urgent repairs. Important can wait; urgent cannot. Emergency is even stronger, often medical or dangerous. Urgently is the adverb; urgency is the noun. In emails, urgent in the subject line is common but easy to overuse.

Meaning

Needing to be dealt with immediately.

Examples

• “This is an urgent message from the school.”
• “We need an urgent decision by Friday.”
• “Please call back urgently.”

Good to know

urgent + noun. Adverb: urgently. Stronger: emergency. Not the same as important.

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