urged on

Meanings

1. 1phrasephrasal verb

   Encouraged someone to continue or to try harder, especially in a difficult or tiring situation.

   Grammar: This is the passive form of 'urge on'; the active pattern is 'urge someone on'.

   Patterns

   • be urged on by someone
   • urge someone on
   • urge on someone

   The runners were urged on by the cheering crowd.

   She felt urged on by her teammates to finish the race.

   He was urged on by his coach to keep going despite the pain.

2. 2phrasephrasal verb

   Driven or pushed forward by a strong feeling or force.

   Grammar: Often used with abstract forces like 'ambition', 'fear', or 'desire'.

   Patterns

   • urged on by hunger
   • urged on by ambition
   • urged on by curiosity

   Urged on by hunger, the animals left their hiding places.

   He was urged on by a desire for revenge.

   Urged on by curiosity, she opened the letter.

Common combinations

urged on by the crowd

The team was urged on by the crowd.

urged on by a desire

She was urged on by a desire to succeed.

urge someone on

The teacher urged the students on during the exam.

Synonyms and how they differ

encouraged

More general; 'urged on' suggests active pushing to continue, while 'encouraged' can be gentler.

spurred on

Very similar, but 'spurred on' often implies a sudden stimulus rather than steady support.

Opposites

Word family

urge verb

To strongly advise or try to persuade someone to do something.

urging noun

A strong attempt to persuade someone.

Commonly confused: urged on or urged?

Practice

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Write a sentence using “urged on”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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