urge

1 of 2

verb

ˈərj 

urged; urging

transitive verb

1

: to present, advocate, or demand earnestly or pressingly

an editorial urging readers to vote

… 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

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

A hand on my back urged me forward.

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

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 : a strong need or desire to do or have something

Phrases

urge on

: to encourage (someone or something) to move ahead, do something, etc.

riders urging their horses on

I wanted to quit but she urged me on.

Synonyms of urge

Verb

• encourage

Noun

• desire
• craving
• longing
• thirst
• hunger

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

Chairwoman Robyn Denholm urged shareholders to support it, warning in a letter Monday that the company risks losing significant value if the deal fails and Musk opts to step down as chief executive. —Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 3 Nov. 2025

Bullet points include encouraging residents to teach their children not to open the door at home, and the sheet also urges people not to post unverified information on social media or interfere with investigations. —Adam Crafton, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025

Noun

The urge to wolf down something sweet may be caused by a sudden spike or drop in glucose and other metabolic changes in the body, researchers have found. —Angela Haupt, Time, 4 Nov. 2025

Give your 19th-century plowman a dozen hard ciders, though, and see whether that plays a more significant role in his evening than his urge to pull himself up by his bootstraps. —Dan Brooks, The Atlantic, 3 Nov. 2025

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

Phrases Containing urge

• urge incontinence

Rhymes for urge

• dirge
• merge
• purge
• scourge
• serge
• splurge
• spurge
• sturge
• surge
• verge
• converge
• diverge

Kids Definition

urge

1 of 2 verb

ˈərj 

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