adj · noun · 7 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
UK, US:/ˈɛk.sɪ.d͡ʒənt/
UK, US:/ˈɛɡ.zɪ.d͡ʒənt/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:EH1 K S IH0 JH AH0 N T
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Urgent; pressing; needing immediate action.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
2003, Working Group Report on Detainee Interrogations, U.S. Department of Defence Article 2 also provides that acts of torture cannot be justified on the grounds of exigent circumstances, such as state of war or public emergency, or on orders from a superior officer or public authority.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adj
Meaning 2
Demanding; requiring great effort.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
Extremity; end; limit; pressing urgency.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: archaic
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
The amount that is required.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: archaic
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
A writ in proceedings before outlawry.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: UK, obsolete
Topics: law
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
adjective satellite
Meaning 6
requiring precise accuracy
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
an exacting job
became more exigent over his pronunciation
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: exacting
Antonyms: none provided
7
adjective satellite
Meaning 7
demanding attention- H.L.Mencken
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
clamant needs
a crying need
regarded literary questions as exigent and momentous
insistent hunger
an instant need
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: clamant, crying, insistent, instant
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
From Latin exigēns, present active participle of exigō (“demand, require”). Doublet of exigeant.
Across languages
Translations
36 source translations are retained for this English entry.
