urgent care
noun
1
: medical care provided for illnesses or injuries which require prompt attention but are typically not of such seriousness as to require the services of an emergency room
… they have turned to one of the fastest-growing segments of American health care: urgent care, a common category of walk-in clinics with uncommon interest from Wall Street.—
Julie Creswell
—often used before another nounJulie CreswellIf your leg or arm is sore and swollen, go to an urgent care center; if you have chest pain, shortness of breath or you're coughing up blood, get to an emergency room.—Rick Nathanson
Rick NathansonThe athlete sustains an inversion or eversion ankle injury and is evaluated at a local emergency room or urgent care facility.—James S. Keene
James S. Keene2
: medical care of an urgent nature
Strokes now are the focus of a broad new public-awareness campaign labeling them as "brain attacks," needing the same urgent care as heart attacks.—Marilyn Chase
Marilyn ChaseExamples of urgent care in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
What started as a hospital network has grown into a comprehensive health system that includes primary and specialty care at more than 40 medical group locations, urgent care centers, ambulatory surgery and imaging centers, and dialysis clinics across Southern California.
—Jessica Peralta, Oc Register, 19 Sep. 2025
Some urgent care centers may also administer the treatment.
—Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 18 Sep. 2025
The doctors, who all work for the Allina Health chain of hospitals, health clinics and urgent care sites, are seeking higher compensation, smaller workloads and more support staff.
—Patrick Aguilar, The Conversation, 10 Sep. 2025
But the urgent care was closed.
—Abigail Adams, PEOPLE, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for urgent care
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Jessica Peralta, Oc Register, 19 Sep. 2025
Some urgent care centers may also administer the treatment.
—Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 18 Sep. 2025
The doctors, who all work for the Allina Health chain of hospitals, health clinics and urgent care sites, are seeking higher compensation, smaller workloads and more support staff.
—Patrick Aguilar, The Conversation, 10 Sep. 2025
But the urgent care was closed.
—Abigail Adams, PEOPLE, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for urgent care
Cite this Entry
“Urgent care.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/urgent%20care. Accessed 26 Sep. 2025.
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