urge

[ urj ]

/ ɜrdʒ /

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See synonyms for: urge / urged / urges / urging on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), urged, urg·ing.

to push or force along; impel with force or vigor: to urge the cause along.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

an act of urging; impelling action, influence, or force; impulse.

an involuntary, natural, or instinctive impulse: the sex urge.

OTHER WORDS FOR urge

4 incite, goad, stimulate, spur.

7 aver, asseverate.

See synonyms for urge on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR urge

1-3 deter.

4, 5 discourage.

See antonyms for urge on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

SHALL WE PLAY A "SHALL" VS. "SHOULD" CHALLENGE?

Should you take this quiz on “shall” versus “should”? It should prove to be a quick challenge!

Question 1 of 6

Which form is used to state an obligation or duty someone has?

shall

should

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of urge

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

OTHER WORDS FROM urge

urg·ing·ly, adverbo·ver·urge, verb, o·ver·urged, o·ver·urg·ing.un·urged, adjectiveun·urg·ing, adjective

How to use urge in a sentence

He took Washington to the 1975 NBA Finals and posted a 155-91 record over three seasons before serving as an assistant — and winning the 1981 NBA championship with Boston — for seven years while nursing the urge to lead an NBA team again.
K.C. Jones, who coached Bullets to NBA Finals before winning two titles with Boston, dies at 88|Glynn A. Hill|December 26, 2020|Washington Post
When you’re faced with acne, it’s important to resist the urge to cover it with makeup.
What Do Different Facial Breakouts Mean?|Brooklyn White|December 24, 2020|Essence.com
The exchange began when Musk tweeted a crude image suggesting he was trying to resist the urge to buy Bitcoin.
Elon Musk trolls Bitcoin, causes novelty Dogecoin to soar|Jeff|December 21, 2020|Fortune
With that has come the urge to quantify and track leisure activities, counting steps, recording meals and fielding reminder notifications from that damn Duolingo owl.
Can Technology Save Your Marriage?|Joshua Eferighe|November 20, 2020|Ozy

I wanted to catch any little urge and start to potentially hack my brain to redirect that serotonin blast you get when you are doing something out of habit.
How the pandemic got people smoking again|Melinda Fakuade|November 12, 2020|Vox
In several reports he urged the pit operators to safeguard the birds.
Two Texas Regulators Tried to Enforce the Rules. They Were Fired.|David Hasemyer, InsideClimate News|December 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He urged his son to help the Special Forces teams working in the area.
Special Forces’ $77M ‘Hustler’ Hits Back|Kevin Maurer|December 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The law professor, Benny Tai, urged the students to “retreat and take the spirit of the Umbrella Movement into the community.”
The Monuments Men of Occupy Hong Kong|Brendon Hong|December 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Janay admits that Baltimore Ravens officials urged her to apologize along with her husband.
Janay Rice: Ravens Fed Me Apology Script|Jack Holmes, The Daily Beast Video|December 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
After the midterm elections, conservative pundits and radio hosts urged Congress not to work with Obama.
Will 5 Million Undocumented Immigrants Take Obama's Tough Love Immigration Deal?|Ruben Navarrette Jr.|November 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Various impulses urged him into a pouring flood of words; yet he gave expression to none of them.
The Wave|Algernon Blackwood
But the great number of Indians still unconverted demands many more missionaries, whom the king is urged to send.
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume XX, 1621-1624|Various
He urged the growing of mulberry trees and the propagation of silk worms, as being of more value than tobacco.
Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce|E. R. Billings.
I didn't like to be done; the man urged me to occupy one place that was yet vacant; my evil genius prompted me to do so.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3)|Charles James Wills
Every word she breathed, every anathema she denounced, seemed urged by the quick revenge of Duke Wharton!
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4|Jane Porter

British Dictionary definitions for urge

urge

/ (ɜːdʒ) /

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 onto urge the need for safety

(tr) to impel, drive, or hasten onwardshe urged the horses on

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

noun

a strong impulse, inner drive, or yearning

Word Origin for urge

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

urge

OTHER WORDS FOR urge

OPPOSITES FOR urge

Origin of urge

OTHER WORDS FROM urge

Words related to urge

How to use urge in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for urge

Word Origin for urge