Urge

Yazar

03/01/2026

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1. Definition + Rich Everyday Explanation

Urge (verb / noun) = to strongly encourage or push someone to do something; a strong desire or impulse to act (as noun).

As a verb, this word means pressing someone firmly to take action — not just suggesting, but really pushing with intensity because you believe it’s important or necessary. It’s that feeling of “you really should do this!” often with concern or enthusiasm.

The noun form is a strong inner drive or impulse — like a sudden urge to eat chocolate or the urge to speak up in a meeting. The metaphorical meaning dominates: urges are powerful feelings that push us toward action, sometimes hard to resist.

In real life, “urge” carries weight — doctors urge patients to quit smoking (serious advice), friends urge you to try something fun (excited push). As a noun, it often explains uncontrollable wants: “fight the urge” means resisting temptation. The word signals intensity and motivation, whether external pressure or internal pull.

Examples from the street:

“Doctors urge people to get vaccinated” → strong medical recommendation for health
“I had a sudden urge to call my old friend” → powerful impulse that felt irresistible
“She urged him to apologize before it was too late” → pushed hard with emotional concern

2. Most Common Patterns

urge + someone + to + verb → strongly encourage a person to act
urge + noun (action/reform) → push for a specific change
an urge to + verb → a strong desire for an action
strong/sudden/irresistible urge → describe the intensity of the desire
fight/resist an urge → try not to give in to the impulse

3. Phrasal Verbs

Note: There are no common phrasal verbs directly containing “urge” — these are related expressions:

push for → strongly advocate or demand something
Example: “Activists push for stricter laws on pollution.”
hold back → resist or suppress an urge
Example: “She held back the urge to laugh during the serious moment.”
give in to → surrender to a strong urge
Example: “He finally gave in to the urge and bought the expensive shoes.”

4. Example Sentences

Experts urge people to wear masks in crowded places.→ Specialists strongly recommend covering faces in busy areas.
The campaign urges immediate climate action.→ The initiative pushes hard for quick environmental steps.
I felt a strong urge to help when I saw the accident.→ A powerful impulse arose to assist after witnessing the crash.
Parents often urge children to study harder.→ Guardians frequently press kids firmly for better academic effort.
He couldn’t resist the urge to check his phone.→ The desire to look at the device proved too powerful to ignore.
Teachers urge students to ask questions in class.→ Instructors strongly encourage pupils to inquire during lessons.
She had an irresistible urge to dance when the music started.→ An overwhelming desire to move hit her as soon as the songs played.
The letter urges faster government response.→ The message demands quicker official action.
Try to fight the urge to eat sweets late at night.→ Work against the temptation for candy during evening hours.
Friends urged him to apply for the job.→ Companions pushed him strongly to submit the application.

5. Personal Examples

Teachers often urge students to participate more in discussions.→ Instructors frequently encourage pupils firmly to join conversations actively.
I always urge English learners to speak without fear of mistakes.→ I constantly push language students to talk freely despite possible errors.

6. Register: Neutral

✔ Native usage tips

“Urge someone to” is formal advice — doctors, experts “urge” in news for authority
Noun “urge” common for temptations: “the urge to…” explains impulses
Stronger than “suggest” — “urge” implies importance or urgency
In motivation: “I urge you to try” sounds passionate and caring