This list covers 6 verbs, running from “Xerox” to “Xylograph”. Words that begin with the letter X are rare in English, and most of them describe specific actions tied to technology, science, or craft, like copying documents, examining something with radiation, or engraving designs into wood. You’ll find them useful whenever you need precise, less common vocabulary for writing, conversation, or word games.

Verbs are words that describe actions, occurrences, or states of being, and they change form depending on tense and subject. Many verbs starting with X actually come from trademarked brand names or borrowed terms that slowly became everyday words, the way “Xerox” turned from a company name into a common way to say “photocopy”. This kind of shift shows how language keeps evolving as new inventions enter daily life.

Below you’ll find the table with Word, Tense Forms, Definition, Example Usage, and Description.

Word: the specific X verb you’re looking up, listed exactly as it’s commonly used in everyday and written English.

Tense Forms: the base form, past tense, past participle, and present participle, so you know how to conjugate the verb correctly.

Definition: a short, clear explanation of what the verb means and what action it describes.

Example Usage: a sample sentence showing you how the verb fits naturally into real conversation or writing.

Description: extra background on the verb’s origin, common context, or how people typically use it, giving you a fuller picture beyond the basic definition.

Verbs

WordTense FormsDefinitionExample Usage
Xeroxxerox, xeroxed, xeroxed, xeroxingTo photocopy a document“Can you xerox this contract for me before the meeting?”
X-rayx-ray, x-rayed, x-rayed, x-rayingTo examine, photograph, or treat using x-ray radiation“The dentist had to x-ray my jaw to check for the cracked tooth.”
Xeriscapexeriscape, xeriscaped, xeriscaped, xeriscapingTo landscape a garden using drought-tolerant plants and minimal irrigation“They decided to xeriscape the front yard to save water during the drought.”
X outx out, x’d out, x’d out, x-ing outTo cross something out or cancel it by marking it with an X“She x’d out the wrong answer and wrote the correct one above it.”
Xenograftxenograft, xenografted, xenografted, xenograftingTo transplant tissue or an organ from one species into another“Surgeons xenografted pig heart valves into the patient.”
Xylographxylograph, xylographed, xylographed, xylographingTo engrave or print an image from a block of wood“The artisan xylographed the illustration before printing dozens of copies.”

Descriptions

Xerox
Xerox began as a trademarked brand name but became a common verb meaning to photocopy any document on a copying machine.
X-ray
To x-ray something means to use electromagnetic radiation to see inside it, most familiar from medical and dental imaging or airport security scans.
Xeriscape
Xeriscaping is a landscaping approach that swaps thirsty lawns for native, drought-resistant plants, gravel, and mulch to cut down on water use.
X out
To x out something means to mark it with an X to show it’s cancelled, deleted, or no longer valid, often used casually in writing or editing.
Xenograft
Xenografting is a medical procedure where tissue or organs from an animal, often a pig, are transplanted into a human, mainly used when human donor material isn’t available.
Xylograph
Xylographing is an old-fashioned printmaking technique where an image is carved into a wooden block and then inked and pressed onto paper.
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