Urge Definition, Usage & Example Sentences

Meaning 1：persuade earnestly (urge)

urge 🔊

/ɜːrdʒ/

To strongly and sincerely try to get someone to do something.

Urge meaning illustrated: person speaking earnestly to persuade someone to take action

persuade earnestly 🔊

➕

/pərˈsweɪd ˈɜːrnɪstli/

To try sincerely and forcefully to convince someone to take a specific action, often for their own benefit.

📁 Category：Behaviors & Actions 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'urgēre', meaning to press, drive, or push.

💡 Mnemonic

URGEnt matters require you to URGe others to act. Feel the push within 'urge'.

📖 Example

My friend saw me staying up late and urged me to go to sleep. 🔊 My friend sincerely and strongly advised me to go to bed.

🔗 Collocations

urge someone to do something – strongly advise someone to take an action

urge caution – strongly advise carefulness

urge against – strongly advise not to do something

🔄 Synonyms

encourage (v.) – To give support, confidence, or hope, often less forceful than urge.

advise (v.) – To offer suggestions about the best course of action.

exhort (v.) – To strongly encourage or urge someone to do something, formal.

🚫 Antonyms

discourage (v.) – To persuade someone not to take an action.

deter (v.) – To discourage someone from acting by instilling doubt or fear.

🌱 Derivatives

urgent (adj.) – Requiring immediate action or attention.

urgency (n.) – The state of requiring immediate action.

📖 Cultural Story

The word 'urge' entered English from Latin 'urgēre' (to press, drive, or push) via Old French. This reflects a metaphorical shift from physical pushing to psychological pressing or strong encouragement.