urge
Americanverb (used with object)
-
urges,
present (3rd person singular)
-
urged,
past participle, past
-
urging
present participle
-
to push or force along; impel with force or vigor.
to urge the cause along.
- Antonyms:
- deter
-
to drive with incitement to speed or effort.
to urge dogs on with shouts.
- Antonyms:
- deter
-
to press, push, or hasten (the course, activities, etc.).
to urge one's escape.
- Antonyms:
- deter
-
to impel, constrain, or move to some action.
urged by necessity.
- Antonyms:
- discourage
-
to endeavor to induce or persuade, as by entreaties; entreat or exhort earnestly.
to urge a person to greater caution.
- Antonyms:
- discourage
-
to press (something) upon the attention.
to urge a claim.
-
to insist on, allege, or assert with earnestness.
to urge the need of haste.
- Synonyms:
- asseverate, aver
-
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)
-
urges,
present (3rd person singular)
-
urged,
past participle, past
-
urging
present participle
-
to exert a driving or impelling force; give an impulse to haste or action.
Hunger urges.
-
to make entreaties or earnest recommendations.
-
to press arguments or allegations, as against a person, action, or cause.
The senator urged against the confirmation of the appointment.
noun
-
urges
plural
-
an act of urging; impelling action, influence, or force; impulse.
-
an involuntary, natural, or instinctive impulse.
the sex urge.
verb
-
(tr) to plead, press, or move (someone to do something)
we urged him to surrender
-
(tr; may take a clause as object) to advocate or recommend earnestly and persistently; plead or insist on
to urge the need for safety
-
(tr) to impel, drive, or hasten onwards
he urged the horses on
-
archaic (tr) to stimulate, excite, or incite
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
urgesimple
-
urgessimple
-
have urgedperfect
-
has urgedperfect
-
am urgingprogressive
-
are urgingprogressive
-
is urgingprogressive
-
have been urgingperfect progressive
-
has been urgingperfect progressive
Past
-
urgedsimple
-
had urgedperfect
-
was urgingprogressive
-
were urgingprogressive
-
had been urgingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of urge
First recorded in 1550–60, urge is from the Latin word urgēre to press, force, drive, urge
Explanation
If you have an urge to eat candy, you really want to eat those sweets. Your mother might urge you to wait until after dinner. As a noun, urge means a desire. As a verb, it means to strongly encourage. Urge is related to the word, urgent, or 'pressing.' An urge is a pressing want, one that is almost a compulsion, like when you're so frustrated, you have the urge to scream. If you urge someone to do something, you feel strongly about it. You might urge a friend to wear an orange shirt not because you happen to like orange, but because they're walking in the woods during hunting season.
Vocabulary lists containing urge
Michelle Obama's Speech at the 2016 DNC
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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.
See Examples For:
"We urge the government to clarify quickly the issues raised by this affair over ministerial involvement in the vetting process."
From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026
"With profound grief and sorrow, I urge the authorities to conduct a thorough investigation and take strict action against anyone found responsible so that such tragedies can be prevented in the future," he said.
From Barron's ● Oct. 15, 2026
But that urge to stop working after turning 60 and your many unresolved anxieties about retirement are, to an extent, in conflict.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 13, 2026
They also reported poorer sleep, a stronger desire for continuous stimulation, and greater difficulty resisting the urge to immediately check their phones or act on impulses.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 12, 2026
Michael felt the urge to sneeze—he was still getting over his stupid summer cold—and his eyes watered.
From "The First State of Being" by Erin Entrada Kelly
The co-portfolio manager at Heartland Advisors urges investors to shut out Wall Street’s hype on AI and look for companies that can use its technology as costs come down.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026
Not to worry, a kindly male neighbor assures Adam — her maternal urges will kick right in after the babies are born.
From Salon ● Oct. 3, 2026
He urges side sleepers to pick a position that keeps their back straight.
From BBC ● Sep. 27, 2026
The witches are thus visible manifestations of internal malevolent urges, and the 12 dancer witches who supplemented the large singing chorus of hags appeared throughout the evening—observing, slipping through walls, and egging the protagonists on.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2026
It was bad not because it brought growth, that was good, but because it raised from dark interiors the restless, wild urges that lay sleeping all winter.
From "Bless Me, Ultima" by Rudolfo Anaya
"This Saturday, October 17, will be a celebration of our collective power. Walk together to the polls. Organize rides. Bring your neighbors, friends, and family," she urged participants.
From Barron's ● Oct. 17, 2026
Syerleena urged accountability at a regional level, with companies linked to burning held responsible whether they are Indonesian, Malaysian or Singaporean.
From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2026
The UK government has urged visitors to check media, external for latest information, stay away from "demonstrations, large-scale gatherings or political rallies" and follow advice of local authorities.
From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026
As the Ukrainians urged him on, Stupnikov stepped up his campaign, sabotaging his brigade’s work with actions large and small.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026
In a secret memo, he urged the president to deny Westmoreland's request.
From "Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War" by Steve Sheinkin
Activist investor Elliott Management saw an opportunity last year, buying a $4 billion stake and urging Pepsi to streamline its North American snacks and beverage businesses.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 17, 2026
Companies showed off their life-like AI videos, urging emerging talent — and out-of-work creatives — to join them as they worked to reinvent traditional filmmaking.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 17, 2026
On Wednesday, New York City Comptroller Mark Levine sent a letter to Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei urging the company to pause its IPO proceedings until it fully addresses safety and governance issues surrounding AI technology.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 16, 2026
Mitchell, Peters, and others have been urging the administration to take more strategic steps to address their concerns.
From Salon ● Oct. 16, 2026
The New York Times even issued an open plea urging Fischer to continue his challenge.
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
