Urge Meaning
Urge Definition & Usage
To strongly encourage or persuade someone to take a specific action or to do something.
Examples
- "She urged him to apply for the job before the deadline."
- "The teacher urged the students to study for the final exams."
- "I urge you to take this opportunity seriously—it may never come again."
- "They urged the government to take immediate action to address the crisis."
- "The doctor urged the patient to stop smoking for their health."
To feel a strong internal desire or impulse to do something.
Examples
- "I felt an urge to help him, even though I wasn't sure how."
- "There was a sudden urge to run and not look back."
- "She resisted the urge to eat the last piece of cake."
- "He couldn’t control the urge to shout when he heard the news."
- "Sometimes, I get an urge to travel and just explore new places."
A strong feeling or desire to do something.
Examples
- "She had an urge to go for a walk after sitting for hours."
- "The urge to help others in need is something we all feel at times."
- "His urge to write came from a deep need to express himself."
- "I felt an urge to laugh at the absurdity of the situation."
- "The sudden urge to check my phone took over me during the meeting."
Cultural Context
The word 'urge' has evolved over centuries, originating from Latin 'urgere', meaning to press forward or push. It is used in both literal and figurative senses, ranging from urging someone to act to describing spontaneous desires or impulses. In modern usage, the verb can be used to express a sense of urgency, as well as an emotional or psychological drive. It can also refer to a strong internal impulse to do something.
The Urge to Act
Story
The Urge to Act
Maria had always been the quiet one in the group, but today something felt different. She stood by the door, hesitating, while the others chatted around the table. Her mind was racing, and an intense urge to speak up bubbled inside her. Her friend, Jake, noticed her discomfort and leaned closer. 'Are you okay?' he asked. She smiled weakly but didn’t answer. Instead, her eyes kept darting to the open space at the front of the room where the meeting would soon start. There was no real reason for the sudden sense of urgency. The proposal was just another routine discussion, one of many. But as her colleagues began talking, the urge to take charge, to present the idea herself, grew stronger. She had to. She could feel her heart pounding, her palms sweating. 'Just go for it,' she thought, urging herself silently. The more she tried to suppress the feeling, the more it overwhelmed her. Finally, as the conversation took an expected turn, Maria stood up, her voice shaking as she addressed the room. 'I think we should reconsider the approach,' she said, her words rushing out in a flood of thought. Her colleagues looked up, surprised, but she continued, the urge to speak now driving her forward. Later that day, she couldn’t quite explain what had made her act so decisively. It wasn’t her usual style. She had just felt this sudden, uncontrollable urge to share her thoughts, to make a difference. Even now, as she sat at her desk, she couldn’t shake the feeling of how right it had felt. Jake found her later in the hallway. 'You were great,' he said. 'You really urged everyone to think differently.' Maria smiled, feeling a warm rush of satisfaction. It wasn’t just the act of speaking up that had surprised her; it was how strong the internal impulse had been. The urge had taken over, and for once, she didn’t resist it.
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