expression, godan verb (-u)
race against time; every moment counts
Used when a situation is urgent and there is no time to lose; often appears in the form 一刻を争う事態 or similar.
一刻を争う事態なので、すぐに救急車を呼んでください。
It's a race against time, so please call an ambulance immediately.
この問題は
This problem is urgent; every moment counts.