URGE

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does urge mean? 

• URGE (noun)
  The noun URGE has 2 senses:

1. an instinctive motive

2. a strong restless desire

  Familiarity information: URGE used as a noun is rare.

• URGE (verb)
  The verb URGE has 3 senses:

1. force or impel in an indicated direction

2. push for something

3. spur on or encourage especially by cheers and shouts

  Familiarity information: URGE used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• URGE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

An instinctive motive

Classified under:

Nouns denoting goals

Synonyms:

impulse; urge

Context example:

profound religious impulses

Hypernyms ("urge" is a kind of...):

motivation; motive; need (the psychological feature that arouses an organism to action toward a desired goal; the reason for the action; that which gives purpose and direction to behavior)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "urge"):

abience ((psychology) an urge to withdraw or avoid a situation or an object)

adience ((psychology) an urge to accept or approach a situation or an object)

death instinct; death wish; Thanatos ((psychoanalysis) an unconscious urge to die)

itchy feet; wanderlust (very strong or irresistible impulse to travel)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A strong restless desire

Classified under:

Nouns denoting feelings and emotions

Synonyms:

itch; urge

Context example:

why this urge to travel?

Hypernyms ("urge" is a kind of...):

desire (the feeling that accompanies an unsatisfied state)

• URGE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they urge    ... he / she / it urges   
Past simple: urged   
Past participle: urged   
-ing form: urging   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Force or impel in an indicated direction

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

exhort; press; urge; urge on

Context example:

I urged him to finish his studies

Hypernyms (to "urge" is one way to...):

advise; counsel; rede (give advice to)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "urge"):

hurry; rush (urge to an unnatural speed)

bear on; push (press, drive, or impel (someone) to action or completion of an action)

advocate; preach (speak, plead, or argue in favor of)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody to INFINITIVE

Sentence examples:

Sam cannot urge Sue
They urge him to write the letter

Derivation:

urgent (compelling immediate action)

urging (a verbalization that encourages you to attempt something)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Push for something

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

advocate; recommend; urge

Context example:

The travel agent recommended strongly that we not travel on Thanksgiving Day

Hypernyms (to "urge" is one way to...):

advise; propose; suggest (make a proposal, declare a plan for something)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "urge"):

prescribe (recommend as beneficial)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Somebody ----s that CLAUSE

Derivation:

urgency (insistent solicitation and entreaty)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Spur on or encourage especially by cheers and shouts

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

barrack; cheer; exhort; inspire; pep up; root on; urge; urge on

Context example:

The crowd cheered the demonstrating strikers

Hypernyms (to "urge" is one way to...):

encourage (inspire with confidence; give hope or courage to)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "urge"):

cheerlead (act as a cheerleader in a sports event)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Sentence example:

They urge him to write the letter

Derivation:

urging (the act of earnestly supporting or encouraging)

 Context examples 

“Do not urge me, Isabella. I am engaged to Miss Tilney. I cannot go.”

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

The Overactive Bladder Questionnaire (OAB-q) A sudden urge to urinate with little or no warning?

(OAB-q - Sudden Urge to Urinate with Little or No Warning, NCI Thesaurus)

Symptoms include: • Blood in your urine • A frequent urge to urinate • Pain when you urinate • Low back pain

(Bladder Cancer, NIH: National Cancer Institute)

"An' take a rest to-morrow," the other urged.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

"Do explain," I urged, when he halted once more.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Georgina Jackson, Professor of Cognitive Neuropsychology in the Institute of Mental Health, said, This research has shown that the 'urge' is increased by trying to stop yourself.

(Why Is Yawning so Contagious?, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

Grant, advised by Edmund, and warmly urged by the two sisters, was soon in possession of his mind, and which he seemed to want to be encouraged even by her to resolve on.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

The Overactive Bladder Questionnaire (OAB-q) An uncomfortable urge to urinate?

(OAB-q - Uncomfortable Urge to Urinate, NCI Thesaurus)

The Overactive Bladder Questionnaire Short Form (OAB-q Short Form) A sudden urge to urinate with little or no warning?

(OAB-q Short Form - Sudden Urge to Urinate with Little or No Warning, NCI Thesaurus)

The Overactive Bladder Questionnaire Short Form (OAB-q Short Form) An uncomfortable urge to urinate?

(OAB-q Short Form - Uncomfortable Urge to Urinate, NCI Thesaurus)