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Synonyms

urge

American  
[urj] / ɜrdʒ /

verb (used with object)

urged, urging
  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, urging
  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 British  
/ 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

"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

noun

  1. a strong impulse, inner drive, or yearning

"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

Other Word Forms

  • overurge verb
  • unurged adjective
  • unurging adjective
  • urgingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of urge

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Looking ahead, Kalas urged caution as astronomers prepare for future missions aimed at directly imaging exoplanets.

From Science Daily

This means resisting the urge to take a phone call on a walk, listen to a podcast in the car or otherwise multitask while doing simple things.

From The Wall Street Journal

The AA urged drivers to take "extreme care" due to the risk of black ice, after nine children were injured in a collision between a school coach and a bus in Reading on Wednesday.

From BBC

They took out an ad in the New York Times urging the impeachment of President Richard Nixon.

From The Wall Street Journal

"We eagerly await the details of what this policy will actually entail," said Garin, of the Private Equity Stakeholder Project, adding: "But we urge policymakers not to stop there."

From BBC