urge

1 of 2

verb

urged; urging

transitive verb

1
: to present, advocate, or demand earnestly or pressingly
his conviction was upheld on a theory never urged at his … trialLeon Friedman
2
: to undertake the accomplishment of with energy, swiftness, or enthusiasm
urge the attack
3
a
: solicit, entreat
urged him to keep trying
b
: to serve as a motive or reason for
urged by a sense of duty
4
: to force or impel in an indicated direction or into motion or greater speed
the dog urged the sheep toward the gate
5
: stimulate, provoke
urge not my father's angerWilliam Shakespeare

intransitive verb

: to declare, advance, or press earnestly a statement, argument, charge, or claim
urged for the adoption of the proposal
urger noun

urge

2 of 2

noun

1
: the act or process of urging
2
: a force or impulse that urges
especially : a continuing impulse toward an activity or goal

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 Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Industry groups had also urged lawmakers to avoid the shutdown, warning that the travel sector was already sensitive to staffing challenges and seasonal demand could be hit hard. Zach Wichter, USA Today, 7 Oct. 2025 Burnett urged those who received the calls to stay skeptical of anyone claiming to be a deputy and to not engage in conversation with them. David Clarey, jsonline.com, 6 Oct. 2025
Noun
Jayden Daniels’ fairytale 52-yard Hail Mary pass to Noah Brown may have never happened had Stevenson resisted the urge to engage with the crowd both before the final snap and then, stunningly, for several seconds after the play began. Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025 The latter may scoff at the idea of a nostalgic horror movie, but anyone who's had the urge to peek through their fingers as nightmares unfold in front of them knows that fear can be both cathartic and illuminating. Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for urge

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Latin urgēre to press, push, entreat — more at wreak

First Known Use

Verb

circa 1555, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

circa 1618, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of urge was circa 1555

Cite this Entry

“Urge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/urge. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.

Kids 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 noun
1
: the act or process of urging
2
: a strong desire especially to achieve a goal
the urge to win

More from Merriam-Webster on urge

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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