pressing

adjective

press·​ing ˈpre-siŋ How to pronounce pressing (audio)
Synonyms of pressingnext
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.
Aggressive counter-pressing is also a defining feature, with teams swiftly attempting to recover possession high up the pitch, and successful sides regaining the ball faster. Clemente Lisi, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026 Duncan said adding another stadium project to the city’s ledger that does not address the city’s more pressing issues still hurts taxpayers, despite the developers’ plans to back the bonds. Dylan Lysen june 30, Kansas City Star, 30 June 2026 The most pressing problem right now is the absence of Judge, whose timeline to return from a right rib stress fracture remains uncertain. Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 29 June 2026 Other teams that demonstrated counter-pressing styles included Ecuador, Germany and Canada. Miami Herald, 29 June 2026 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

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Cite this Entry

“Pressing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pressing. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

pressing

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

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