urgent / urgently
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urgent
Describes something that must be dealt with immediately and cannot be postponed; urgent, pressing.
Das ist ein dringender Fall, der Patient muss sofort operiert werden.
This is an urgent case; the patient must be operated on immediately.
urgently
Used as an adverb to express a strong need or wish; very much, absolutely.
Wir brauchen dringend eine Lösung für dieses Problem.
We urgently need a solution to this problem.
The adjective 'dringend' (urgent) is derived from the verb 'dringen', which means 'to press' or 'to push/urge'. Something that is 'dringend' therefore pushes for haste and is pressing.
Ich habe eine dringende Frage an Sie.
I have an urgent question for you.
'Dringend' can be an adjective that describes a noun or an adverb that modifies a verb. As an adjective, it is declined (e.g. 'ein dringender Termin' — an urgent appointment). As an adverb, it remains unchanged (e.g. 'ich brauche dringend Hilfe' — I urgently need help).
Das war eine dringende Warnung.
That was an urgent warning.
As an adjective, 'dringend' often describes nouns related to communication or emergencies. Common combinations are 'ein dringender Anruf' (an urgent call), 'eine dringende Nachricht' (an urgent message), or 'ein dringender Verdacht' (a strong suspicion).
Er musste wegen eines dringenden Familienfalls sofort nach Hause.
He had to go home immediately because of an urgent family emergency.
As an adverb, 'dringend' often intensifies verbs of needing, searching, or asking. Typical phrases are 'dringend brauchen' (to urgently need), 'dringend suchen' (to urgently look for), or 'jemanden dringend um etwas bitten' (to urgently ask someone for something).
Für unser Projekt suchen wir dringend einen Programmierer.
We are urgently looking for a programmer for our project.
immediately
Sofort says that something happens without any delay. Dringend, on the other hand, emphasizes a strong need or desire but does not specify the exact time as directly. Sofort fits questions about “when?”, while dringend is used for something that is particularly important or needed.
Bitte ruf mich dringend an, denn ich muss etwas Wichtiges klären.
Please call me urgently because I need to clarify something important.
Bitte ruf mich sofort an, denn ich warte schon am Telefon.
Please call me immediately because I am already waiting by the phone.
