# urge

/ˈɝdʒ/ (US) · /ˈɜːdʒ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/urge
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to strongly encourage

verb · CEFR B2

to try hard to persuade someone to do something because you think it is important.

For teachers: to earnestly or persistently persuade someone to take a specific action. Transitive; frequently followed by an object and a to-infinitive.

- 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'.

### 2. to recommend strongly

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to suggest a plan or action very strongly.

For teachers: to advocate for a particular course of action or policy with intensity. Often used with a 'that' clause in formal contexts.

- 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').

### 3. a strong desire

noun · CEFR B2

a sudden, strong feeling that you want to do something.

For teachers: a strong, often impulsive, yearning or desire to perform a particular act.

- 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.

## Examples

- 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.

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