urge

urge [ʉrj]

vt.

urged, urging [L urgere, to press hard: see WREAK]

1.

a) to press upon the attention; present or speak of earnestly and repeatedly; plead, allege, or advocate strongly [to urge caution]

b) to entreat or plead with; ask, persuade, or solicit earnestly; press; exhort

2. to stimulate or incite; provoke

3. to drive or force onward; press forward; impel

4. to ply (oars, etc.) vigorously

vi.

1. to make an earnest presentation of arguments, claims, charges, entreaties, etc.

2. to exert a force that drives or impels, as to action

n.

1. the act of urging

2. an impulse to do a certain thing; impelling influence or force, esp. an inner drive

urger

n.

SYN.- URGE implies a strong effort to persuade someone to do something, as by entreaty, argument, or forceful recommendation [he urged us to leave ]; EXHORT implies an earnest urging or admonishing to action or conduct considered proper or right [the minister exhorted his flock to work for peace ]; PRESS¹ suggests a continuous, insistent urging that is difficult to resist [we pressed her to stay ]; IMPORTUNE implies persistent efforts to break down resistance against a demand or request, often to the point of being annoying or wearisome [too proud to importune for help ]