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urge

[urj]
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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.
  3. to press, push, or hasten (the course, activities, etc.): to urge one's escape.
  4. to impel, constrain, or move to some action: urged by necessity.
  5. to endeavor to induce or persuade, as by entreaties; entreat or exhort earnestly: to urge a person to greater caution.
  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.
  8. to press by persuasion or recommendation, as for acceptance, performance, or use; recommend or advocate earnestly: to urge a plan of action.
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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.
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noun
  1. an act of urging; impelling action, influence, or force; impulse.
  2. an involuntary, natural, or instinctive impulse: the sex urge.
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Origin of urge

First recorded in 1550–60, urge is from the Latin word urgēre to press, force, drive, urge
Related formsurg·ing·ly, adverbo·ver·urge, verb, o·ver·urged, o·ver·urg·ing.un·urged, adjectiveun·urg·ing, adjective

Synonyms

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4. incite, goad, stimulate, spur. 7. aver, asseverate.

Antonyms

1–3. deter. 4, 5. discourage.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for urged

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • "He said he was poor," urged Billy, who had been rather taken with the ease of Arledge's manner.

    The Spenders

    Harry Leon Wilson

  • At parting, she urged Eudora to share her apartment for the night.

    Philothea

    Lydia Maria Child

  • "Do it good while you're doin' it," urged Uncle Peter, cheerfully.

    The Spenders

    Harry Leon Wilson

  • Just because it would be so difficult to raise the hundred pounds she urged it.

  • "But that way was so exciting," she urged, not at all convinced.

    Within the Law

    Marvin Dana

British Dictionary definitions for urged

urge

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 onto urge the need for safety
  3. (tr) to impel, drive, or hasten onwardshe urged the horses on
  4. (tr) archaic, or literary to stimulate, excite, or incite
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noun
  1. a strong impulse, inner drive, or yearning
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Word Origin

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

Word Origin and History for urged

urge

n.

1610s, from urge (v.); in frequent use after c.1910.

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urge

v.

1550s, from Latin urgere "to press hard, push, drive, compel," from PIE root *werg- "to work" (cf. Avestan vareza "work, activity;" Greek ergon "work," orgia "religious performances," organon "tool;" Armenian gorc "work;" Lithuanian verziu "tie, fasten, squeeze," vargas "need, distress;" Old Church Slavonic vragu "enemy;" Gothic waurkjan, Old English wyrcan "work;" Gothic wrikan "persecute," Old English wrecan "drive, hunt, pursue;" Old Norse yrka "work, take effect"). Related: Urged; urging.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper