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 Web
Hailey Branson-Potts, Los Angeles Times, 11 Jan. 2025
Rice is not the only player to urge the crowd to push them on this season.
—Jordan Campbell, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025
Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025
The brand marketers at CPGs often feel the urge to over-orchestrate content featuring their product.
—Srishti Sundram, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for urge 
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Verb
County officials apologized Friday after residents across the Los Angeles area continued to receive erroneous emergency alerts that urged them to prepare to evacuate, even though many were not close to any of the fires sweeping across the foothills of the sprawling metropolis.
—Hailey Branson-Potts, Los Angeles Times, 11 Jan. 2025
Rice is not the only player to urge the crowd to push them on this season.
—Jordan Campbell, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025
Noun
How strong this urge feels can vary due to several factors, FitzD said, such as the position of the baby, whether the woman has given birth before, the size of the baby or if the mother has been administered any drugs such as an epidural.
—Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025
The brand marketers at CPGs often feel the urge to over-orchestrate content featuring their product.
—Srishti Sundram, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for urge
Dictionary Entries Near urge
Cite this Entry
“Urge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/urge. Accessed 15 Jan. 2025.
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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