urge

urge — noun

1. a powerful feeling inside you that makes you want to do something, especially so

1.nounB2
Definition

a powerful feeling inside you that makes you want to do something, especially something you know you should not do

Example

Obi felt a sudden urge to call his mother after finding the old photograph.

urge + to-infinitive for desire

Despite her diet, Yan could not resist the urge to order dessert.

collocation: resist the urge

Common collocations
  • resist the urge
  • fight the urge
  • overwhelming urge
  • sudden urge
  • feel an urge
  • suppress an urge
Synonyms
  • impulse

    a sudden, strong urge to act without thinking — more sudden than 'urge'

  • desire

    a general feeling of wanting something — less urgent than 'urge'

  • compulsion

    an urge that feels impossible to resist, often associated with psychological pressure

Antonyms
  • reluctance

    a feeling of not wanting to do something

Grammar Patterns

urge + to-infinitive

Usage Note

Often followed by a to-infinitive (urge to do something) or a prepositional phrase (urge for something). The urge can be positive (urge to help) or negative (urge to lie).

Common Mistakes

I had an urge to going home.
I had an urge to go home.
after 'urge to', use the base form of the verb, not a gerund.

urge — verb

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

These three words all involve trying to get someone to act, but they differ in force and method. 'Urge' is the strongest and most insistent — it means pressing someone firmly because you believe the action is right. 'Encourage' is gentler and more about giving support or confidence ('The teacher encouraged the shy student to speak up'). 'Persuade' focuses on winning someone over through logical argument or emotional appeal ('The salesperson persuaded her to buy the extended warranty'). 'Push' is more informal and can feel aggressive ('His parents pushed him into studying law'). When in doubt: use 'urge' for serious, earnest recommendations; 'encourage' for support without pressure; 'persuade' when the other person needs convincing.

encourage ↗persuade ↗push ↗

Common collocations

Adverbs

  • strongly urge
  • repeatedly urge
  • constantly urge

Prepositions

  • urge into
  • urge toward
  • urge forward

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'urge' comes from Latin 'urgēre', which meant 'to press, drive, or push forward'. It entered English through French in the 1500s. The original sense of physical pushing gradually expanded to include mental pressing — strongly persuading someone or feeling an inner drive. Both the verb and noun meanings have travelled together from Latin through to modern English.