What is urge? How to use in English

Discover the meaning of urge in English, its pronunciation, and how to use it correctly in real-life situations. See examples and easy memorization tips.

Definition & pronunciation of urge

urgeverb

thúc, giục, giục giã, sự thúc đẩy, sự thôi thúc

/əːdʒ/

Definition & pronunciation of <strong>urge</strong>

Where does the word urge come from?

The word "urge" has its roots in Old English and Germanic languages. The term "urge" comes from the Proto-Germanic word "*wurgiz," which was derived from the Proto-Indo-European root "*wer-," meaning "to move" or "to cause to move." This root is also seen in other English words such as "work" and "worry." In Old English, the word "urge" originally meant "to stir up" or "to incite," and was often used to describe the act of stirring or rousing someone or something. Over time, the meaning of the word expanded to include the sense of a strong internal feeling or desire to do something. In modern English, the word "urge" is often used to describe a strong desire or impulse to do something, such as an urge to eat or an urge to go for a run. Despite its evolution over time, the word "urge" still retains its roots in the idea of movement or incitement.

Vocabulary summary urge

typenoun

meaningurge

exampleto urge the horse onward

exampleto urge someone to do something

typetransitive verb

meaningurge

exampleto urge the horse onward

exampleto urge someone to do something

meaninginsist, try to persuade

examplethe shopkeeper urged me to buy a hat

meaningto state, to propose, to demonstrate; to cite evidence; to emphasize

exampleto urge the need for economy

Example of vocabulary urgenamespace

meaning

to advise or try hard to persuade somebody to do something

  • If you ever get the chance to visit this place, I strongly urge you to do so.
  • Police are urging anyone who saw the accident to contact them immediately.
  • She urged him to stay.
  • I urge people to vote yes on May 5.
  • The charity urged the government to reconsider its decision.
meaning

to recommend something strongly

  • The situation is dangerous and the UN is urging caution.
  • EU foreign ministers urged an independent inquiry into allegations of human rights violations.
  • The prime minister is urging restraint on Washington.
  • He urged a tax increase upon congress as a way of damping down consumer spending.
meaning

to make a person or an animal move more quickly and/or in a particular direction, especially by pushing or forcing them

  • He urged his horse forward.

Synonyms and related words for urge


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