urge

[ urj ]

verb (used with object)

, urged, urg·ing.

1. to push or force along; impel with force or vigor:

   to urge the cause along.

   Antonyms: deter

2. to drive with incitement to speed or effort:

   to urge dogs on with shouts.

   Antonyms: deter

3. to press, push, or hasten (the course, activities, etc.):

   to urge one's escape.

   Antonyms: deter

4. to impel, constrain, or move to some action:

   urged by necessity.

   Synonyms: spur, stimulate, goad, incite

   Antonyms: discourage

5. to endeavor to induce or persuade, as by entreaties; entreat or exhort earnestly:

   to urge a person to greater caution.

   Antonyms: discourage

6. to press (something) upon the attention:

   to urge a claim.

7. to insist on, allege, or assert with earnestness:

   to urge the need of haste.

   Synonyms: asseverate, aver

8. to press by persuasion or recommendation, as for acceptance, performance, or use; recommend or advocate earnestly:

   to urge a plan of action.

verb (used without object)

, urged, urg·ing.

1. to exert a driving or impelling force; give an impulse to haste or action:

   Hunger urges.

2. to make entreaties or earnest recommendations.
3. to press arguments or allegations, as against a person, action, or cause:

   The senator urged against the confirmation of the appointment.

noun

1. an act of urging; impelling action, influence, or force; impulse.
2. an involuntary, natural, or instinctive impulse:

   the sex urge.

urge

/ ɜːdʒ /

verb

1. tr to plead, press, or move (someone to do something)

   we urged him to surrender

2. tr; may take a clause as object to advocate or recommend earnestly and persistently; plead or insist on

   to urge the need for safety

3. tr to impel, drive, or hasten onwards

   he urged the horses on

4. archaic.
   tr to stimulate, excite, or incite

noun

1. a strong impulse, inner drive, or yearning

Other Words From

• urging·ly adverb
• over·urge verb overurged overurging
• un·urged adjective
• un·urging adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of urge¹

First recorded in 1550–60, urge is from the Latin word urgēre to press, force, drive, urge

Word History and Origins

Origin of urge¹

C16: from Latin urgēre

Example Sentences

“I want to thank those people who have already shared their accounts of what they saw with police. I urge anyone with information or footage, or any witnesses yet to speak with police, to get in touch,” Cdr Stevens added.

From BBC

"I would urge our government going forward to be constructive in those discussions."

From BBC

Even with the knowledge that this is his last block of Ireland games for a year, Farrell has resisted the urge to experiment.

From BBC

“I urge the incoming D.A. to prioritize addressing systemic injustices, reducing reliance on over incarceration, and ensuring fairness for all individuals facing prosecution,” he said in a statement.

From Los Angeles Times

“It would have been better if we had had a primary, even if Harris was the eventual victor,” Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., one of the first Democratic elected officials to publicly urge Biden to step down after the debate, told Politico.

From Salon

Related Words

• appetite
• compulsion
• craving
• impulse
• itch
• longing
• lust
• passion
• weakness
• yearning