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

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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

At the time, Madigan urged the Legislature to pass legislation to ban or greatly restrict the use of ethylene oxide in Illinois. — Charles Selle, Lake County News-Sun, "Selle: Waukegan blast lawsuit a dud when compared to EtO risks," 10 June 2019 Even as Leung spoke, one of the other protesters tugged at his shirt, urging him to cover his face again. — Alice Su, latimes.com, "In Hong Kong, one protester pulls off his mask and defines a movement," 6 July 2019 But as a civil rights activist, Mr. Stancil urges them to understand the social forces that prompt black women to have abortions at disproportionately high rates. — John Eligon, New York Times, "When ‘Black Lives Matter’ Is Invoked in the Abortion Debate," 6 July 2019 The reversal came after Trump talked by phone with conservative allies who urged him not to give up the fight, according to a senior White House official and a Trump adviser, who both spoke on the condition of anonymity. — John Wagner, BostonGlobe.com, "Government lawyers step up effort to get a citizenship question on 2020 Census, court filing shows," 5 July 2019 His father again put the ball in his hands, urging him to do his homework, study where programs were trending, and the coaches’ backgrounds. — Dom Amore, courant.com, "UConn newcomer Jalen Gaffney isn’t the type to back down, even as a freshman," 4 July 2019 Public interest in climate-science information is rising sharply thanks in part to youth protests urging action by adults — most notably the Fridays for Future campaign launched by Swedish teen climate activist Greta Thunberg. — Quirin Schiermeier, Scientific American, "Climate Change Made Europe’s Mega-Heatwave Five Times More Likely," 3 July 2019 Before the vote, two community members addressed the board and urged them to postpone or vote against the dissolution, including Sue Fischer, a teacher in Palmyra-Eagle for 33 years. — Bob Dohr, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "The Palmyra-Eagle School Board has taken the next step toward dissolving the school district," 2 July 2019 As participants stood outside the governor’s office, the organizers urged them to call the governor to share their concerns. — Shari Rudavsky, Indianapolis Star, "State calls new rules 'Gateway to Work.' Activists call them a 'poverty trap.'," 1 July 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Babr had the sudden youthful urge to run down the street into the afternoon sun. — Veronica Chambers, New York Times, "Viewfinders: 10 Y.A. Novelists Spin Fiction From Vintage Photos," 28 June 2019 In a negative one, the next round of U.S. tariffs on $300 billion of so far unaffected Chinese imports will kick in next week, the recriminations continue, and the urge to conduct beggar-thy-neighbor policies spirals out of control. — Geoffrey Smith, Fortune, "A Fear at the G20 Summit: That the U.S.-China Trade War Turns Into a Currency Conflict," 28 June 2019 When that urge strikes, The Division 2 is here for you. — Matthew Gault, Time, "The Best Video Games of 2019 (So Far)," 26 June 2019 Purina and their team of veterinarians, food scientists and nutritionists, many being pet parents themselves, understand this protective urge and abide by the belief that every ingredient has a purpose. — Kelli Bender, PEOPLE.com, "We Tried it: Tracing a Natural, Sustainable Pet Food to Its Source Out in Alaska's Bering Sea," 25 June 2019 Some of the best music stories start with that sort of passionate fandom, the urge to understand and honor someone wondrous. — Aaron Gilbreath, Longreads, "Those Limits Were Not Hindrances: An Interview with Megan Pugh," 25 June 2019 But these days the pet-keeping urge has spread even to parts of the world which have no tradition of snuggling up on a comfy chair with a furry creature. — The Economist, "Pets have gained the upper paw over their so-called owners," 22 June 2019 Like Elodie, Moe is also a kleptomaniac, a person who's unable to resist urges to steal. — Jasmine Gomez, Seventeen, "Get To Know the Cast of "Trinkets" And Their Characters," 17 June 2019 If members of the human species are driven to scale Mount Everest or slog to the poles, isn’t there an inevitable urge onward to Mars and beyond? — National Geographic, "Countdown to a new era inSpace," 17 June 2019

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.