urge
n. countable B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford US //ˈɝdʒ// UK //ˈɜːdʒ// urge
n. a strong feeling that you must do something. It is often a sudden or powerful desire that is hard to ignore.
n. a strong, often impulsive desire or impulse to act. Frequently used to describe biological or psychological drives.
I had a sudden urge to buy some chocolate.
She resisted the urge to check her phone during the important meeting.
Psychologists suggest that the urge to conform to social groups is deeply rooted in human evolutionary history as a survival mechanism.
From Latin urgeō (“urge”).
Usage
Often followed by a 'to' infinitive ('an urge to run') or the preposition 'for' ('an urge for sugar').
Pitfall
I have an urge of eatingI have an urge to eatThe noun is typically followed by a 'to' infinitive rather than 'of' + gerund.