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 noun

If 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

The athlete sustains an inversion or eversion ankle injury and is evaluated at a local emergency room or urgent care facility.

—James S. Keene

2

: 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

Examples of urgent care in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Novant’s urgent care facility at the center is set to launch during the first phase of the facility’s opening. —Chase Jordan, Charlotte Observer, 5 Apr. 2025

Medicaid rates are often half the prices charged at walk-in clinics and urgent care centers. —John C. Goodman, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025

The Justice Department filed a motion to dismiss the Biden administration lawsuit in a reversal that could have national implications for urgent care. —Lindsay Whitehurst, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2025

This can include everything from regular check-ups to urgent care. —Paulina Wierzbicka, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1973, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for urgent care

• aftercare
• anywhere
• billionaire
• chinaware
• debonair
• dinnerware
• disrepair
• doctrinaire
• earthenware
• everywhere
• frigidaire
• kitchenware