Verb Examples: Definition, Types, and List of Verbs

Want to know where all the action is? Verbs! Verbs are words that represent actions that are external (run, jump, work) and internal (love, think, consider). Without verbs, you can’t do anything, you can’t feel anything—you can’t even be anything. 

As the heart of sentences and clauses, verbs show what the subject is doing or feeling, even if they’re just existing. Verbs are also the only type of word that’s necessary to make a sentence. Not even nouns, which represent things, need to be in every sentence.

What Is A Verb?

Verbs are the action words in a sentence that describe what the subject is doing. Along with nouns, verbs are the main part of a sentence or phrase, telling a story about what is taking place.

In fact, without a verb, full thoughts can’t be properly conveyed, and even the simplest sentences, such as Maria sings, have one.

Actually, a verb can be a sentence by itself, with the subject, in most cases you, implied, such as, Sing! and Drive!

When learning the rules of grammar, schoolchildren are often taught that verbs are ‘doing’ words, meaning they signify the part of the sentence which explains the action taking place:

• He ran away.
• She eats chocolate cake on Sundays.
• The horses gallop across the fields.

Ran, eats, and gallop is the ‘action’ parts of those sentences, thus they are the verbs.

However, it can be confusing because not all verbs are easily identifiable as action:

• I know your name.
• Jack thought about it.
• We considered several applications.

These are non-action verbs, i.e., those that describe a state of being, emotion, possession, sense, or opinion. Other non-action verbs include love, agree, feel, am, and have.

Definition of a Verb

The Oxford Learners’ Dictionary defines a ‘verb’ as “a word or group of words that express an action (such as eat), an event (such as happen) or a state (such as exist)”.

According to the Cambridge Dictionary, a ‘verb’ is defined as “a word or phrase that describes an action, condition, or experience”.

The Collins Dictionary provides a much more elaborate definition of a verb. According to them, “A verb is a word such as ‘ sing’, ‘ feel’, or ‘ die’ which is used with a subject to say what someone or something does or what happens to them, or to give information about them”.

When Do You Use a Verb?

In my opinion, verbs are one of the most important parts of a sentence. But it depends on what forms of verbs you’re going to use. There are three main types of verbs: action, linking, and helping. Don’t worry; I’ll explain each one.

Action verbs express physical or mental actions. Examples of action verbs include run, jump, think, and feel. Linking verbs are words that connect the subject of a sentence to a noun or adjective that describes the subject.

The most used linking verb is the verb to be, which can be used as both an action verb and a linking verb. Helping verbs are words that come before the main verb in a sentence and help to express the verb tense or make it negative. Some examples of helping verbs include am, is, are, was, were, do, does, did, have, has, and had.

There are more types of verbs let’s discuss each one of them in detail.

Types of Verbs

Some of the main types of verbs are:

• Action Verbs.
• Regular verbs.
• Irregular verbs.
• Transitive verbs.
• Intransitive verbs.
• Dynamic verbs.
• Stative verbs.
• Linking verbs.
• Auxiliary verbs.
• Modal verbs
• Phrasal verbs

1. Action Verbs

An action verb shows what the subject of a sentence is doing. Action verbs are often contrasted and should not be confused with two other types of verbs: stative verbs and linking verbs. Unlike action verbs, stative verbs express states of being or conditions.

Examples of Action Verbs:

• The dog ran after the ball.
• She jumped over the fence.
• They sang a beautiful song.
• He wrote a letter to his friend.
• The children played in the park.

2. Regular Verbs

A regular verb is a verb that follows a common pattern of conjugation. The past tense of a regular verb is formed by adding an ‘ed’ or ‘d’ to the root verb and the past participle form of the verb is the same as its past form.

Examples of Regular Verbs:

• She walked to school every day.
• They cleaned their room before the guests arrived.
• He talked to his boss about a promotion.
• The cat jumped onto the table.
• I watched a movie last night.

3. Irregular Verbs

An irregular verb is defined as “a verb that does not follow the usual rules of grammar. For example, ‘eat’ is an irregular verb because its past tense is ‘ate’ and its past participle is ‘eaten’, not ‘eated’,.

Examples of Irregular Verbs:

• She ate a delicious meal at the restaurant.
• They went on a vacation to the beach.
• He ran in the marathon and won first place.
• The children sang a song at the talent show.
• I saw a shooting star in the night sky.

4. Transitive Verbs

A transitive verb is a verb that uses a direct object, which shows who or what receives the action in a sentence. In the example “she gives a gift,” gives is a transitive verb and a gift is the direct object (what is being given).

Examples of Transitive Verbs:

• She bought a new dress for the party.
• They built a sandcastle on the beach.
• He paints beautiful landscapes.
• The chef cooked a delicious meal.
• I read an interesting book yesterday.

5. Intransitive Verbs

An intransitive verb is a verb that doesn’t need a direct object. Some examples of intransitive verbs are “live,” “cry,” “laugh,” “stand,” and “wait.”

Examples of Intransitive Verbs:

• She slept peacefully all night.
• They laughed at a funny joke.
• He arrived at the airport on time.
• The flowers bloomed in the garden.
• I ran in the park for exercise.

6. Dynamic Verbs

Dynamic verbs describe action. Examples are run , jump , work , play , eat , or drink . They are the most common type of verb and can be used correctly in all verb tenses and aspects. They are usually the easiest to learn.

Examples of Dynamic Verbs:

• She is running in the race tomorrow.
• They are playing soccer in the park.
• He is cooking dinner for his family.
• The engine is roaring loudly.
• I am studying for my exams.

7. Stative Verbs

Stative verbs are verbs that express a state rather than an action. They usually relate to thoughts, emotions, relationships, senses, states of being, and measurements. These verbs are not usually used with “ing” in progressive (continuous) tenses even though they may take on time expressions such as now and at the moment. We use simple tenses for them.

Examples of Stative Verbs:

• She loves to read books.
• They own a beautiful house.
• He knows how to play the guitar.
• The flower smells fragrant.
• I believe in the power of positivity.

8. Linking Verbs

Linking verbs are verbs that don’t show an action but rather describe the subject. While verbs like walk or jump represent an action, linking verbs like be or seem add more details to the subject, such as “he seems nice” or “she is an architect.”

Examples of Linking Verbs:

• She seems tired after a long day.
• They are happy with their new car.
• He became a successful entrepreneur.
• The soup tastes delicious.
• I feel excited about the upcoming trip.

9. Auxiliary Verbs

Auxiliary verbs (also called helping verbs) are used along with a main verb to express tense, mood, or voice. For example, in the statement “it is raining,” “is” functions as an auxiliary verb indicating that the action of the main verb (“raining”) is ongoing.

Examples of Auxiliary Verbs:

• She has finished her homework.
• They were playing in the garden.
• He is going to the party tonight.
• The dog has been barking all day.
• I am studying for my exams.

10. Modal Verbs

Modal verbs show possibility, intent, ability, or necessity. Because they’re a type of auxiliary verb (helper verb), they’re used alongside the infinitive form of the main verb of a sentence. Common examples of modal verbs include can, should, and must.

Examples of Modal Verbs:

• She can speak multiple languages.
• They should call their parents.
• He might go on vacation next month.
• The concert must be amazing.
• I will help you with your project.

11. Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal verbs are two or more words that together act as completely new verbs with a meaning separate from those of the original words. For example, pick up means to grab or lift, very different from the definitions of pick and up alone.

Examples of Phrasal Verbs:

• She turned off the lights before leaving.
• They broke up after a long relationship.
• He made up a story to entertain the children.
• The car ran out of gas on the highway.
• I looked up the meaning of the word in the dictionary.

Related Posts: Verb Phrase Examples and How To Identify A Verb Phrase

Common Type of Verb with Examples

Verb Type	Meaning	Examples
Action Verb	Describes physical or mental actions	Run, Eat, Read, Think, Dance
State Verb	Indicates a state or condition	Love, Hate, Know, Believe, Exist
Auxiliary Verb	Helps form verb tenses or voice	Be, Have, Do, Will, Can
Modal Verb	Expresses possibility, necessity, or ability	May, Might, Should, Could, Must
Transitive Verb	Requires a direct object	Write, Paint, Cook, Build, Clean
Intransitive Verb	Does not require a direct object	Sleep, Laugh, Walk, Run, Swim
Linking Verb	Connects The Subject with A Noun or Adjective	Be, Appear, Become, Seem, Feel
Helping Verb	Assists the main verb in a sentence	Have, Had, Has, Do, Does
Phrasal Verb	Consists of a verb and one or more particles	Break Up, Look After, Take Off, Put Up With
Regular Verb	Follows regular conjugation patterns	Talk, Walk, Play, Watch, Help
Irregular Verb	Does not follow regular conjugation patterns	Go, Have, Do, Be, Come
Phrasal Verb	Consists of a verb and one or more particles	look up, take off, put on, give up, get along

1000+ Verbs List

The following list of verbs will take you through various different verbs in alphabetical order for you to consider. See if you can spot one you would usually use and try to find one with the same meaning for you to try using in a sentence instead.

List of Verbs (A To E)	List of Verbs (E To O)	List of Verbs (O To S)	List of Verbs (S To Z)
Accept	Exhibit	Originate	Smile
Achieve	Exist	Outline	Smoke
Act	Expand	Overcome	Snap
Adapt	Expect	Overhaul	Sneak
Add	Experience	Oversee	Sneeze
Address	Experiment	Overtake	Sniff
Adjust	Explain	Overthrow	Snore
Admire	Explore	Pack	Snow
Admit	Export	Paint	Soar
Adopt	Express	Park	Solve
Advertise	Extend	Participate	Sort
Advise	Extract	Pass	Sound
Agree	Face	Paste	Span
Aid	Fail	Pay	Spare
Aim	Fall	Peek	Spark
Alert	Familiarize	Perform	Speak
Align	Fancy	Permit	Specialize
Allege	Fasten	Persuade	Specify
Allow	Fear	Phase	Speed
Alter	Feed	Photograph	Spell
Amaze	Feel	Pick	Spend
Analyze	Fetch	Picture	Spill
Announce	Fight	Pinch	Spin
Answer	File	Place	Splash
Anticipate	Fill	Plan	Split
Apologize	Finance	Play	Spoil
Apply	Find	Plead	Sponsor
Appreciate	Finish	Please	Spread
Approve	Fix	Plow	Spring
Argue	Flaunt	Plug	Squeeze
Arrange	Flee	Point	Stain
Ascend	Float	Polish	Stammer
Ask	Flood	Pop	Stamp
Aspire	Flow	Pose	Stand
Assess	Fly	Position	Start
Assign	Focus	Possess	Starve
Assist	Follow	Post	Stay
Assume	Force	Pour	Steal
Attract	Foresee	Power	Steer
Audit	Forget	Practice	Step
Avoid	Forgive	Praise	Stick
Awake	Form	Pray	Stimulate
Balance	Forsake	Predict	Stir
Ban	Foster	Prefer	Stitch
Bargain	Found	Prepare	Stop
Bark	Frame	Prescribe	Store
Beam	Freeze	Present	Stray
Beg	Frighten	Preserve	Strengthen
Behave	Fry	Preside	Stretch
Believe	Fulfill	Press	Strike
Belong	Function	Pretend	Strive
Bite	Gain	Prevent	Structure
Blink	Gather	Print	Study
Blossom	Generate	Prioritize	Stumble
Blush	Get	Probe	Submit
Boast	Give	Process	Subtract
Boil	Glance	Produce	Succeed
Bolster	Glitter	Program	Suck
Boost	Glow	Progress	Suffer
Borrow	Go	Project	Suggest
Bounce	Grab	Promote	Suit
Bow	Graduate	Propose	Summarize
Break	Grant	Protect	Supervise
Breathe	Greet	Prove	Supply
Build	Grill	Provide	Support
Burst	Grin	Publish	Suppose
Calculate	Grind	Pull	Suppress
Call	Grip	Pump	Surprise
Calm	Grow	Punch	Surround
Capture	Guard	Purchase	Suspect
Care	Guess	Pursue	Suspend
Carry	Guide	Push	Swallow
Carve	Hammer	Put	Swap
Cause	Hand	Qualify	Sway
Celebrate	Handle	Quarrel	Sweat
Challenge	Hang	Question	Sweep
Change	Happen	Quit	Swell
Chat	Harm	Quote	Swim
Check	Harness	Race	Swing
Cheer	Hate	Radiate	Switch
Choose	Heal	Rain	Symbolize
Claim	Hear	Raise	Synthesize
Clap	Heat	Rally	Systemize
Clean	Help	Read	Tackle
Clear	Hide	Realign	Tailor
Climb	Hinder	Realize	Take
Click	Hiss	Rebuild	Talk
Cling	Hit	Recall	Tame
Close	Hold	Receive	Tap
Coach	Hug	Reckon	Target
Collect	Hum	Recommend	Taste
Color	Hunt	Reconcile	Teach
Combine	Hurt	Record	Tear
Comfort	Identify	Recruit	Tell
Command	Ignore	Rectify	Temp
Commend	Illustrate	Reduce	Temper
Communicate	Imagine	Refer	Tend
Compare	Implement	Reflect	Test
Compete	Imply	Refrain	Thank
Complain	Improve	Refresh	Think
Complete	Include	Refuse	Thrive
Concentrate	Increase	Regain	Throw
Conceptualize	Indicate	Regard	Thump
Concern	Induce	Register	Tie
Conclude	Influence	Regret	Tilt
Confront	Inform	Regulate	Time
Confuse	Initiate	Rehabilitate	Tingle
Connect	Injure	Reign	Tiptoe
Conquer	Insert	Reject	Tire
Consider	Inspect	Rejoice	Toast
Consolidate	Inspire	Relate	Tolerate
Construct	Install	Relax	Trace
Consult	Integrate	Release	Track
Consume	Intend	Relieve	Trade
Contain	Intensify	Rely	Train
Continue	Interact	Remain	Translate
Contribute	Interest	Remember	Transmit
Control	Interfere	Remind	Travel
Convert	Interpret	Remove	Tread
Convince	Interrupt	Renegotiate	Treasure
Cook	Introduce	Renounce	Treat
Cooperate	Invent	Repair	Tremble
Coordinate	Invite	Repeat	Triumph
Copy	Irritate	Replace	Trust
Correct	Itch	Reply	Try
Cost	Joke	Report	Tug
Cough	Judge	Request	Tumble
Count	Jump	Rescue	Tune
Cover	Justify	Research	Turn
Create	Keep	Reserve	Twist
Criticize	Kick	Reset	Type
Cross	Kill	Resolve	Uncover
Crouch	Kiss	Respect	Understand
Crush	Kneel	Respond	Undertake
Cry	Knock	Rest	Unify
Cure	Know	Restore	Unite
Curl	Label	Restrict	Unleash
Cut	Lament	Retire	Unload
Cycle	Land	Retrieve	Unlock
Dance	Last	Return	Unravel
Dare	Laugh	Reveal	Unwind
Deal	Launch	Reverse	Update
Debate	Lay	Revise	Upgrade
Decide	Lead	Revive	Uphold
Decorate	Leak	Reward	Upset
Dedicate	Learn	Rework	Urge
Define	Leave	Rhyme	Use
Delay	Lecture	Ride	Utilize
Deliver	Lend	Ring	Vaccinate
Demand	Lessen	Rip	Validate
Demonstrate	Level	Rise	Value
Depend	License	Risk	Vanish
Describe	Lick	Roar	Vary
Design	Lie	Rock	Vault
Desire	Lift	Roll	Venture
Destroy	Light	Rotate	Visit
Detail	Like	Rub	Visualize
Detect	Listen	Ruin	Voice
Develop	Live	Rule	Volunteer
Devote	Load	Run	Vote
Diagnose	Locate	Rush	Wade
Dig	Lock	Satisfy	Wail
Diminish	Long	Save	Wait
Dip	Look	Say	Wake
Direct	Lose	Scan	Walk
Discover	Love	Scatter	Wander
Discuss	Lower	Schedule	Want
Dislike	Maintain	Score	Warm
Distinguish	Make	Scorch	Warn
Distribute	Manage	Scrape	Wash
Dive	Manipulate	Scratch	Waste
Divert	Manufacture	Scream	Watch
Divorce	Map	Screw	Water
Donate	March	Search	Wave
Doubt	Mark	Secure	Weaken
Draft	Market	See	Wear
Drag	Marry	Seek	Weave
Dramatize	Massage	Seize	Wed
Draw	Master	Select	Weep
Dream	Match	Sell	Weigh
Dress	Mate	Send	Welcome
Drill	Matter	Sense	Whisper
Drink	Measure	Separate	Whistle
Drive	Mediate	Set	Widen
Drop	Melt	Settle	Wipe
Dry	Memorize	Sew	Wish
Earn	Mend	Shake	Withdraw
Edit	Mention	Shape	Withhold
Educate	Merge	Share	Witness
Elect	Mind	Shatter	Wonder
Elevate	Minimize	Shed	Work
Eliminate	Mislead	Shelter	Worry
Embark	Miss	Shift	Worship
Embrace	Mix	Shine	Wrap
Employ	Mobilize	Shoot	Wreck
Empower	Model	Shop	Wrench
Empty	Modify	Show	Wriggle
Encourage	Monitor	Shrink	Write
End	Motivate	Shrug	x-ray
Endorse	Mount	Shudder	xerox
Endure	Move	Shush	yak
Enforce	Multiply	Shut	yammer
Enhance	Murder	Sigh	yank
Enjoy	Name	Sign	yap
Enlarge	Navigate	Signal	yawn
Enlighten	Need	Simplify	yearn
Enlist	Negotiate	Sing	yell
Ensure	Nest	Sink	yellow
Enter	Notice	Sit	yelp
Entertain	Notify	Sketch	yield
Envision	Nourish	Skip	yip
Equip	Nurture	Slam	yodel
Escape	Observe	Slap	yoke
Establish	Obtain	Slash	yowl
Estimate	Occupy	Sleep	zap
Evaluate	Offer	Slice	zest
Examine	Open	Slide	zigzag
Excel	Operate	Slip	zip
Exchange	Order	Slow	zone
Exercise	Organize	Smash	zoom