urge

[ urj ]
/ ɜrdʒ /

verb (used with object), urged, urg·ing.

verb (used without object), urged, urg·ing.

noun

an act of urging; impelling action, influence, or force; impulse.
an involuntary, natural, or instinctive impulse: the sex urge.

Origin of urge

First recorded in 1550–60, urge is from the Latin word urgēre to press, force, drive, urge

OTHER WORDS FROM urge

urg·ing·ly, adverb o·ver·urge, verb, o·ver·urged, o·ver·urg·ing. un·urged, adjective un·urg·ing, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for urge

British Dictionary definitions for urge

urge
/ (ɜːdʒ) /

verb

(tr) to plead, press, or move (someone to do something) we urged him to surrender
(tr; may take a clause as object) to advocate or recommend earnestly and persistently; plead or insist on to urge the need for safety
(tr) to impel, drive, or hasten onwards he urged the horses on
(tr) archaic, or literary to stimulate, excite, or incite

noun

a strong impulse, inner drive, or yearning

Word Origin for urge

C16: from Latin urgēre