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urge

urge

223 3.2
A strong desire to do something
  • noun
  • /ɜrdʒ/
translation icon : impulso
  • All of her strength was suddenly devoted to restraining the urge to leap at the woman.
  • resist the urge
  • a strong urge
  • feel an urge

I'm not feeling the urge to be pregnant.

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Examples

  • You will have a strong urge to kiss the person next to you.

  • And in the end, quite often the urge is stronger than they are.

  • So does the urge to gain wealth and power.

  • But every so often he gets this crazy urge.

  • Nevertheless, there is still a strong urge to ask why the universe suddenly appeared from nothing.

    Academic text (1992)
  • We should recognize human beings have an urge to change their consciousness.

  • The job of the writer is to harness this natural, human urge and make it work in his favor.

    Academic text (2008)
  • I felt the magnetic power of the desert: an irresistible urge to sleep took hold of me.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • You may feel a strong urge to travel after reading about new places.

  • She experienced an overwhelming urge to help those in need during the charity event.

Synonyms

desire
vsurge
1.6

A strong wish to have or experience something

is more action focused rather than general wanting or hoping
temptation
vsurge
192 3.8

A strong wish to do something, often something you should not do

is a general strong wish not necessarily linked to wrong or unwise acts
drive
vsurge
190 3.4

A strong desire or energy to do something

is a general strong wanting that is less focused on achieving specific goals
impulse
vsurge
185 3.6

A sudden strong want to do something without thinking

is less sudden and may last longer rather than happen instantly
inclination
vsurge
61 4.2

A natural tendency to want or choose something

is a stronger, more urgent wish rather than a mere preference to act
compulsion
vsurge
40 6.7

A strong urge to do something that is hard to control

is less overwhelming and allows more choice or control over action
itch
vsurge
  • Informal
31 4.2

A strong desire to do or have something

is a stronger clearer wish rather than a persistent background feeling
1 7.9

A sudden strong desire to do something you cannot control

is a strong wish that is usually less uncontrollable and somewhat milder

Antonyms

71 4.6

Lack of interest or concern about something

31 6.5

A strong dislike of something or someone

Compounds

5 4.2

A strong desire to have sex

urge incontinence
  • Specialized
7.7

A sudden strong need to pee that leads to leaking urine

How Strong

obsession
262 5.1
compulsion
40 6.7
impulse
185 3.6
urge
223 3.2
desire
1.6
inclination
61 4.2

Surface Forms

urge singular
urges plural

Etymology

Urge: The noun comes from the same Latin word urgere 'to push', so an 'urge' is like an inner push or impulse to act, which is why it means a strong desire to do something.