Exigent means urgent and demanding, requiring immediate attention or action. When a situation is exigent, it presses on you like a deadline that can't be pushed back or a problem that must be solved right now.

Doctors face exigent circumstances in emergency rooms, where every second counts and decisions can't wait. A firefighter responding to a call deals with exigent conditions that demand quick thinking and decisive action. In school, you might face exigent demands during finals week when multiple projects and tests pile up at once, all needing your attention immediately.

Exigent situations don't give you the luxury of postponing or taking your time. When weather forecasters issue warnings about exigent conditions, they mean dangerous circumstances requiring immediate preparation or evacuation.

People sometimes describe bosses or teachers as exacting (a related word), meaning they have very high standards. Exigent emphasizes the urgency and pressing nature of demands, the time pressure that makes waiting impossible. An exigent situation is one where delay could mean disaster, where the moment demands everything you've got, right now.