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Exigent

/ˈɛɡzɪdʒənt/

adjectiveC1

Definition

Exigent describes a situation, task, or need that requires quick action or immediate attention. It means something cannot wait and must be dealt with right away because it is very important or serious.

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See It in Action

Requiring immediate attention or action

  • •The exigent call for help made everyone rush to the scene.
  • •Exigent circumstances forced the police to enter without a warrant.
  • •The project deadline is exigent, so we must work overtime.

Demanding or pressing in nature (less common usage)

  • •The exigent demands of the job require constant focus.
  • •She felt the exigent pressure to complete the task perfectly.

Make It Stick

  • ✓Think of "exigent" like "urgent" (a simpler word), but even stronger—like something is pressing and must be fixed immediately.
  • ✓Picture a fire alarm ringing loudly, telling everyone to leave quickly because the danger is immediate.
  • ✓It's the feeling of stress when you have only a few minutes to finish an important test or help someone in trouble.
  • ✓Sounds like "egg-ZIDGE-ent" → imagine an egg that must be cooked right now or it will break—something delicate needing fast care.
  • ✓Think of emergency doctors who must act fast because patients have exigent health problems.
  • ✓NOT like "important" (which can wait), exigent means something cannot wait at all.
  • ✓NOT like "urgent" (which is fast), exigent is often used in formal or serious situations needing immediate response.
  • ✓NOT like "optional" or "easy"—exigent means critical and demanding quick action.

Try Other Words

  • •Urgent: needing quick action (Use when the situation is serious but in everyday language)
  • •Critical: very important and dangerous if not done (Use when the situation can cause big problems)
  • •Pressing: needing immediate attention (Use for strong needs that cannot wait)
  • •Emergency: sudden serious situation (Use when something dangerous or unexpected happens)

Unboxing

  • •Prefix: "ex-" meaning "out" or "beyond"
  • •Root: "agere" (Latin) meaning "to drive, do, act"
  • •Suffix: "-ent" meaning "having the quality of"
  • •Origin: From Latin "exigere" meaning "to demand or require"
  • •First used in English in the 1600s to describe things that demand action or attention
  • •Today used mostly in formal or legal contexts to describe urgent needs or situations

Reflect & Connect

•Can you think of a time when you faced an exigent situation that needed your immediate attention? How did you react?
•How does understanding the word "exigent" help you recognize when something really cannot wait?

Fill in the blanks

1.The exigent situation ___ immediate action from the rescue team to save lives.
2.Because the problem was exigent, the manager decided to ___ the usual procedures.
3.Exigent demands often ___ a quick and careful response to avoid bigger issues.
4.Unlike regular tasks, exigent ones cannot be ___ or delayed without consequences.
5.The police acted under exigent circumstances, meaning they had no time to ___ a warrant.
6.When the deadline is exigent, employees usually feel ___ pressure to finish on time.
7.In law, exigent circumstances allow officers to enter a property ___ a warrant if urgent danger exists.