urge

[ urj ]
See synonyms for: urgeurgedurgesurging on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),urged, urg·ing.
  1. to push or force along; impel with force or vigor: to urge the cause along.

  2. to drive with incitement to speed or effort: to urge dogs on with shouts.

  1. to press, push, or hasten (the course, activities, etc.): to urge one's escape.

  2. to impel, constrain, or move to some action: urged by necessity.

  3. to endeavor to induce or persuade, as by entreaties; entreat or exhort earnestly: to urge a person to greater caution.

  4. to press (something) upon the attention: to urge a claim.

  5. to insist on, allege, or assert with earnestness: to urge the need of haste.

  6. 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.

  1. 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.

Origin of urge

1
First recorded in 1550–60, urge is from the Latin word urgēre to press, force, drive, urge

Other words for urge

Opposites for urge

Other words from urge

  • urg·ing·ly, adverb
  • o·ver·urge, verb, o·ver·urged, o·ver·urg·ing.
  • un·urged, adjective
  • un·urg·ing, adjective

Words Nearby urge

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use urge in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for 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

  1. (tr) to impel, drive, or hasten onwards: he urged the horses on

  2. (tr) archaic, or literary to stimulate, excite, or incite

noun
  1. a strong impulse, inner drive, or yearning

Origin of urge

1
C16: from Latin urgēre

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012