urged

Urged is the past tense and past participle of the verb urge. To urge someone is to try to persuade or encourage them to take a particular action, or to press them with a sense of urgency. The term often conveys earnestness or insistence and can appear in both casual and formal contexts, including news reporting, policy statements, and personal advice.

Etymology: The verb derives from the noun urge, with roots in the Latin urgere meaning "to press." It entered English via Old French and Middle English, acquiring senses related to urging, prompting, or exhorting.

Usage and grammar: Urged is transitive and normally takes a direct object, often followed by an infinitive clause: "The doctor urged him to quit smoking." It can also take a that-clause: "The committee urged that the policy be revised." The phrase "was urged" or "were urged" is used in passive constructions. The word appears with varying degrees of intensity, from a gentle recommendation to a strong appeal.

Examples: "Officials urged calm after the incident." "The coach urged the players to maintain focus." "She was urged to enroll in the program."

Related terms: urge (noun), urging, urges, urgent; synonyms include exhort, press, prompt, advocate. See also policy language where public authorities urge citizens to take action.