pressing

adjective

press·​ing ˈpre-siŋ How to pronounce pressing (audio)
1
: urgently important : critical
a pressing issue
2
pressingly adverb

Examples of pressing in a Sentence

a pressing need for reform she had pressing business on the other side of town
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But now, there was the greatest, most pressing need. Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 24 May 2025 And there likely will be a next time, with the Heat in the midst of a cap crunch and with more pressing needs than a $9 million player who likely sets up again as, at best, a ninth man. Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 23 May 2025 But there’s another, more pressing question: What the hell was all that about, anyway? Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 23 May 2025 And now, even quicker, his status remains one of the more pressing questions for the Leafs heading into the biggest game in recent franchise. Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 17 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for pressing

Word History

First Known Use

1591, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pressing was in 1591

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pressing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pressing. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

pressing

adjective
press·​ing ˈpres-iŋ How to pronounce pressing (audio)
: needing one's immediate attention
a pressing issue
pressingly adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on pressing

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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