What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
desperately
Example
I am desperately in need of a job. [desperately: adverb]
Example
The team played desperately in the final minutes of the game. [desperately: adverb]
urgently
Example
We need to urgently address this issue before it gets worse. [urgently: adverb]
Example
The doctor was called urgently to the emergency room. [urgently: adverb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Urgently is more commonly used than desperately in everyday language. Urgently is versatile and can be used in a wide range of contexts, while desperately is less common and is typically used to describe personal situations.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between desperately and urgently?
Both desperately and urgently can be used in formal and informal contexts, but urgently is more versatile and can be used in a wider range of formality levels.
