Word
urge
US/ˈɝdʒ/
UK/ˈɜːdʒ/
Definitions
01to strongly encourage
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to try hard to persuade someone to do something because you think it is important.
v. to earnestly or persistently persuade someone to take a specific action. Transitive; frequently followed by an object and a to-infinitive.
日本語:促す※
“The doctor urged him to quit smoking for the sake of his health.”
“The environmental committee urged the government to implement stricter regulations on industrial waste before the local ecosystem suffered permanent damage.”
Usage
Commonly used in the pattern 'urge someone to do something'.
Pitfall
She urged to him to stay.
She urged him to stay.
The verb 'urge' is transitive and takes a direct object before the infinitive; do not use 'to' between the verb and the person.
Antonyms
02to recommend strongly
C1 · Advanced Formal
v. to suggest a plan or action very strongly.
v. to advocate for a particular course of action or policy with intensity. Often used with a 'that' clause in formal contexts.
日本語:勧める※
“The report urged that all staff receive better safety training.”
“Legal experts have urged a complete overhaul of the current sentencing guidelines to ensure greater consistency across the judicial system.”
Usage
In formal writing, this sense often triggers the subjunctive mood in the 'that' clause (e.g., 'urged that he be released').
03a strong desire
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a sudden, strong feeling that you want to do something.
n. a strong, often impulsive, yearning or desire to perform a particular act.
日本語:衝動※
“I had a sudden urge to buy a plane ticket and travel the world.”
“Despite the professional setting, he felt an almost uncontrollable urge to laugh at the absurdity of the CEO's presentation.”
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “urge” in context.
Verb
01. strongly urge the government
“Human rights groups strongly urge the government to reconsider the new law.”
adv + verb + noun
02. urge caution
“Financial experts urge caution when investing in volatile markets.”
verb + noun
03. urge the team to continue
“The coach urged the team to continue fighting until the final whistle.”
verb + noun + infinitive
Adjective
04. irresistible urge
“She felt an irresistible urge to laugh during the serious meeting.”
adj + noun
05. sudden urge
“He had a sudden urge to quit his job and travel the world.”
adj + noun
Noun
06. overcome the urge
“It is difficult to overcome the urge to check your phone every few minutes.”
verb + noun
07. urge to travel
“Her constant urge to travel led her to visit over fifty countries.”
noun + infinitive
Real-World Examples
“Linda's relatives also urged the court to block his release.” “Suntukung’s cousin also urged her to find the women.” Etymology
From Latin urgeō (“urge”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/urge
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0