urge

verb

\ ˈərj

urged; urging

Definition of urge

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : to present, advocate, or demand earnestly or pressingly his conviction was upheld on a theory never urged at his … trial —Leon Friedman

2 : to undertake the accomplishment of with energy, swiftness, or enthusiasm urge the attack

3a : 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 anger —William Shakespeare

intransitive verb

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

urge

noun

Definition of urge (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : the act or process of urging

2 : a force or impulse that urges especially : a continuing impulse toward an activity or goal

Other Words from urge Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about urge

Keep scrolling for more

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: Verb

But last year a group of scientists at universities and environmental organizations wrote members of Congress to urge opposition to the legislation. — Erica Martinson, Anchorage Daily News, "Don Young’s bill to revise Magnuson-Stevens fishing law passes U.S. House," 13 July 2018 Schnatter's actions didn't go unnoticed by Louisville players including receivers Seth Dawkins and Jaylen Smith, who urged on Twitter the stadium be renamed. — The Heat Index, azcentral, "Louisville drops 'Papa John's' from stadium name after founder uses racial slur," 13 July 2018 Hyacinth's sister, Zip, saw Jones first, on a TV broadcast, and urged Hyacinth to check him out. — Will Higgins, Indianapolis Star, "She woke up in Jonestown — everyone was dead," 13 July 2018 Other family members have continued to urge state and federal officials to reopen the case. — Jenny Jarvie, latimes.com, "Justice Department reopens Emmett Till case. His killing in 1955 put a spotlight on racial violence," 12 July 2018 But public pressure from gubernatorial nominee Cynthia Nixon, who is challenging him from the left, prompted Cuomo on Monday to urge the Senate, which is out of session for the summer, to reconvene to pass the law. — Sarah Jones, The New Republic, "Blue States’ Regressive Abortion Laws," 11 July 2018 The company is urging customers to throw out any affected items or return them to ALDI for a full refund. — Talia Richman, baltimoresun.com, "ALDI recalls some poke kits from five Maryland stores," 14 July 2018 Virginians are being urged to report sightings of giant hogweed. — Sarah Klein, Health.com, "Giant Hogweed Sent This Virginia Teen to the Hospital. Here's What to Know About the Scary Plant That Can Burn Your Skin and Lead to Blindness," 13 July 2018 Neal is urging homeowners to consider gap insurance or parametric insurance that can cover that deductible, plus other assets that traditional policies don’t cover, such as pool enclosures, fences and outbuildings. — Ron Hurtibise, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Do you have enough homeowner insurance? Here's how to find out," 13 July 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

That has proved more valuable in the long run than more immediate urges. — James Stavridis, Time, "Democracy Isn't Perfect, But It Will Still Prevail," 12 July 2018 There is the urge to go spelunking through her books, to descend into the mad caves and walk the corridors and labyrinthine tunnels, in search of meaning (or…treasure? — Brittany Allen, Longreads, "Getting Tricked by Helen DeWitt," 9 July 2018 Imaging studies have found that the urge to play video games activates the same brain regions that light up when compulsive gamblers or those addicted to illicit drugs ponder the prospect of gambling or drug use. — Melissa Healy, ajc, "World Health Organization says video game addiction is a disease," 20 June 2018 This writing urge was not a random, completely out-of-character one. — Sara Clarkson, chicagotribune.com, "Clarkson: Susan Byrne’s short stories concern women, village in familiar fictional town," 14 June 2018 Stefanski is resisting the urge to completely clean house and is open to bringing back some members of the Van Gundy front office. — Vince Ellis, Detroit Free Press, "Could Tayshaun Prince emerge in new Detroit Pistons front office?," 27 May 2018 The officials said Kelly portrays himself to Trump administration aides as the lone bulwark against catastrophe, curbing the erratic urges of a president who has a questionable grasp on policy issues and the functions of government. — Chuck Todd, NBC News, "Mueller's questions show just how far-reaching the Russia probe is," 1 May 2018 As was Mad Men, but its admen and -women were shown as far more prone to unconscious urges, petty vanities, pockets of soul sickness, whereas nearly everyone on Suits relies on executive function and Sherlock deduction. — James Wolcott, HWD, "Confessions of a Suits Fan: Why the Legal Drama That Launched Meghan Markle Works," 27 Apr. 2018 This urge came to a head at my ten-year high-school reunion — sort of an unofficial summertime thing my classmates organize every July. — The Cut, The Cut, "3 Juicy High-School and College Reunion Stories," 12 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'urge.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.