pressing

1 of 2

adjective

press·​ing ˈpre-siŋ How to pronounce pressing (audio)
Synonyms of pressingnext
1
: urgently important : critical
a pressing issue
2
: earnest, warm
pressingly
ˈpre-siŋ-lē How to pronounce pressing (audio)
adverb

pressing

2 of 2

present participle of press entry 2, press entry 3

Synonyms of pressing

Relevance

Adjective

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of pressing in a Sentence

Adjective 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.
Adjective
While security is by far the most pressing priority, new projections from the IMF have revealed the war’s deepening economic toll. — semafor.com, 16 Oct. 2026 The candidates for county judge debated the county’s most pressing issues, including budget management, flood control and jail diversion. — Katie Bartlett, San Antonio Express-News, 16 Oct. 2026 Indian tycoon Mukesh Ambani, whose plans to launch satellite communications and dominance over the Indian telecom market have drawn the ire of Elon Musk last week, has a more pressing worry. — Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 15 Oct. 2026 The summit will explore the latest research and help separate the science from the hype around some of the most pressing issues in women’s health today. — Thr Staff, HollywoodReporter, 12 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pressing

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1591, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pressing was in 1591

Phrases Containing pressing

Rhymes for pressing

See All Rhymes for pressing

Browse Nearby Words

press home
pressing
pressing board
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Cite this Entry

“Pressing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pressing. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

pressing

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