urged; urging
1
: to present, advocate, or demand earnestly or pressingly
his conviction was upheld on a theory never urged at his … trial—
Leon Friedman
Leon Friedman2
: to undertake the accomplishment of with energy, swiftness, or enthusiasm
urge the attack
3
4
: to force or impel in an indicated direction or into motion or greater speed
the dog urged the sheep toward the gate
: to declare, advance, or press earnestly a statement, argument, charge, or claim
urged for the adoption of the proposal
urger
noun
1
: the act or process of urging
2
: a force or impulse that urges
especially
: a continuing impulse toward an activity or goal
Synonyms
Examples of urge in a Sentence
Verb
He is continually urging reform.
The rescuers urged that we remain calm.
an editorial urging readers to vote
I urge you to reconsider.
A hand on her back urged her forward.
Noun
the urge for something sweet
He fought the urge to cry.
Recent Examples on the WebHussein Ibish, The Atlantic, 27 Apr. 2024
Officials urged those in the area to seek shelter immediately.
—USA TODAY, 27 Apr. 2024
Massive fire breaks out on the Oceanside Pier April 25, 2024
Officials urged the public to avoid the area to limit smoke exposure.
—Natallie Rocha, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Apr. 2024
Police urged anyone with information about the shooting to call CMPD homicide Detective Patrick Diekhaus at 704-432-8477 or the Crime Stoppers anonymous tips line at 704-334-1600.
—Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 27 Apr. 2024
They are also urged to use extra caution at low water crossings and in areas of poor drainage, such as construction zones.
—Nicole Lopez, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Apr. 2024
People considering injections for medical or cosmetic reasons are urged to ask whether a provider, clinic or spa is licensed and trained, and if any products involved are FDA approved and purchased from a reliable source.
—Kate Gibson, CBS News, 26 Apr. 2024
While noting that people's perception can unfairly tarnish legal gambling, Johnson urges sports leagues to acknowledge the backlash and keep a close eye on public opinion.
—Nick Rockel, Fortune, 26 Apr. 2024
This newspaper, the FCC Editorial Advisory Board and Forum Communications Co. management urge local superintendents, their local school boards and the Legislature’s conference committee to reject the idea of reducing public access to public notices by Minnesota school boards.
—Forum Communications Company, Twin Cities, 25 Apr. 2024
Steve Hochman, SPIN, 15 Apr. 2024
But catching offenders in the act is difficult, and in a city notorious for its aggressive driving culture and heavy traffic, squashing the urge to honk is an uphill battle.
—Erin Nolan, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2024
While at the state hospital, SVPs can take part in treatment programs aimed at curbing their criminal urges.
—Lyndsay Winkley, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2024
That's when the urge came, and the urge was just very, very, very, strong.
—Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 5 Apr. 2024
The urge to travel with as few belongings as possible may not speak to everyone, but those that subscribe to a minimalist view of packing will benefit from having a compact underseat carry-on in their arsenal to make their next plane ride a breeze.
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 3 Apr. 2024
His was an enduring love, even as revelations about her disorder, including urges to break into houses, multiplied.
—Jeffrey Fleishman, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2024
Resist the urge to wander through the rows for that perfect shot, so your shoes don’t introduce harmful pests.
—Erika Ebsworth-Goold, Travel + Leisure, 2 Apr. 2024
My urge to scroll through videos of the attack ebbed.
—Ayelet Waldman, The New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2024
Verb
Global As Israel’s war in Gaza bogs down, some leaders are urging a major assault on Hezbollah.
—Hussein Ibish, The Atlantic, 27 Apr. 2024
Officials urged those in the area to seek shelter immediately.
—USA TODAY, 27 Apr. 2024
Massive fire breaks out on the Oceanside Pier April 25, 2024
Officials urged the public to avoid the area to limit smoke exposure.
—Natallie Rocha, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Apr. 2024
Police urged anyone with information about the shooting to call CMPD homicide Detective Patrick Diekhaus at 704-432-8477 or the Crime Stoppers anonymous tips line at 704-334-1600.
—Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 27 Apr. 2024
They are also urged to use extra caution at low water crossings and in areas of poor drainage, such as construction zones.
—Nicole Lopez, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Apr. 2024
People considering injections for medical or cosmetic reasons are urged to ask whether a provider, clinic or spa is licensed and trained, and if any products involved are FDA approved and purchased from a reliable source.
—Kate Gibson, CBS News, 26 Apr. 2024
While noting that people's perception can unfairly tarnish legal gambling, Johnson urges sports leagues to acknowledge the backlash and keep a close eye on public opinion.
—Nick Rockel, Fortune, 26 Apr. 2024
This newspaper, the FCC Editorial Advisory Board and Forum Communications Co. management urge local superintendents, their local school boards and the Legislature’s conference committee to reject the idea of reducing public access to public notices by Minnesota school boards.
—Forum Communications Company, Twin Cities, 25 Apr. 2024
Noun
But if the physical nature of this galaxy has changed, the physics of it, the forces that drive it—the urgency, the urges—are constants, no less than gravity and light.
—Steve Hochman, SPIN, 15 Apr. 2024
But catching offenders in the act is difficult, and in a city notorious for its aggressive driving culture and heavy traffic, squashing the urge to honk is an uphill battle.
—Erin Nolan, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2024
While at the state hospital, SVPs can take part in treatment programs aimed at curbing their criminal urges.
—Lyndsay Winkley, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2024
That's when the urge came, and the urge was just very, very, very, strong.
—Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 5 Apr. 2024
The urge to travel with as few belongings as possible may not speak to everyone, but those that subscribe to a minimalist view of packing will benefit from having a compact underseat carry-on in their arsenal to make their next plane ride a breeze.
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 3 Apr. 2024
His was an enduring love, even as revelations about her disorder, including urges to break into houses, multiplied.
—Jeffrey Fleishman, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2024
Resist the urge to wander through the rows for that perfect shot, so your shoes don’t introduce harmful pests.
—Erika Ebsworth-Goold, Travel + Leisure, 2 Apr. 2024
My urge to scroll through videos of the attack ebbed.
—Ayelet Waldman, The New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'urge.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near urge
Cite this Entry
“Urge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/urge. Accessed 2 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
urge
1 of 2 verb
urged; urging
1
: to ask for or support earnestly
continually urging reform
2
: to try to persuade
urge a guest to stay longer
3
: to force or drive to some course or activity (as greater speed)
riders urging their horses on
urge
2 of 2 noun1
: the act or process of urging
2
: a strong desire especially to achieve a goal
the urge to win
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