verb
vurb
Verb (noun) means a word that expresses an action, occurrence, or state of being. Example: “Run," "become," and "seem" are all verbs.”
noun
1
A word that expresses an action, occurrence, or state of being.
"The word “speak” is an English verb."
""Run," "become," and "seem" are all verbs."
"Every complete sentence needs a verb."
"In the sentence "Birds sing," the word sing is the verb."
How to use verb
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe action or being word in a sentence — what the subject does or is.
Common mistake
People sometimes "verb" a noun informally (turning a noun into a verb, like "to google"); that's a different, jokey sense from the grammar term.
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Word forms
- Plural
- verbs
- Third person singular
- verbs
- Past tense
- verbed
- Archaic forms
- verbest, verbedst, verbeth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
"Run," "become," and "seem" are all _____.
Etymology
From Latin verbum, "word," which also gives us "word" itself — the two are distant relatives (a doublet).
Synonyms
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action word
Rhymes for verb
See all rhymes for verb →Frequently asked questions
What does “verb” mean?
The word “verb” means a word that expresses an action, occurrence, or state of being. In plain terms, the action or being word in a sentence — what the subject does or is.
How do you pronounce “verb”?
“Verb” is pronounced vurb (/vɝb/ in IPA).
How do you use “verb” in a sentence?
Here is “verb” used in a sentence: “"Run," "become," and "seem" are all verbs.”
What is another word for “verb”?
Words with a similar meaning to “verb” include action word.
What part of speech is “verb”?
“Verb” is a noun.
Where does the word “verb” come from?
The word “verb” comes from Latin. From Latin verbum, "word," which also gives us "word" itself — the two are distant relatives (a doublet).
Is “verb” a common word?
“Verb” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
What is the difference between a verb and a noun?
A verb expresses an action, occurrence, or state of being, such as 'run,' 'happen,' or 'be,' while a noun names a person, place, thing, or idea. Every complete sentence needs a verb, whereas a noun typically serves as the subject or object of that verb.
What is the difference between an action verb and a linking verb?
An action verb describes something the subject does, such as 'jump' or 'write,' while a linking verb, such as 'is' or 'seem,' connects the subject to a description or state of being rather than showing an action.
What are the different tenses of a verb?
Verbs change form to show when an action happens, commonly grouped into past, present, and future tenses, such as 'walked,' 'walk,' and 'will walk.' Many languages, including English, also use additional aspects like continuous and perfect forms to add further detail.
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