This list covers 100 verbs starting with the letter O, running from “Obey” to “Oxidize.” Most of these words describe actions related to control, excess, or change, from following rules and supervising tasks to overdoing, overspending, and transforming through chemical reactions. You’ll find them in everyday speech, business writing, science, law, and casual conversation alike.

Verbs are words that express an action, occurrence, or state of being, and they form the backbone of every sentence. Many O-verbs carry the prefix “over-,” a pattern that English has used for centuries to describe going beyond a normal limit, as in “overcome” or “overwhelm.” This makes the letter O one of the richest sources of prefixed action words in the language.

Below you’ll find the table with each word’s tense forms, definition, example usage, and description.

Word: the base form of each verb, listed alphabetically so you can quickly scan or search for the one you need.

Tense Forms: the past tense and present participle of the verb, helping you use it correctly in different sentences and contexts.

Definition: a short, clear explanation of what the verb means, written so you can grasp it at a glance.

Example Usage: a sample sentence showing the verb in action, giving you a natural sense of how it fits into speech or writing.

Description: extra context on when and how the verb is typically used, including its tone, setting, or common subject matter.

Verbs

WordTense FormsDefinitionExample Usage
Obeyobeyed / obeyingTo comply with an order, rule, or instructionThe soldiers obeyed the general’s command.
Objectobjected / objectingTo express disagreement or oppositionShe objected to the new policy during the meeting.
Obligeobliged / obligingTo make someone legally or morally bound to do something, or to do a favorHe felt obliged to help his neighbor.
Obliterateobliterated / obliteratingTo destroy something completely, leaving no traceThe storm obliterated the small coastal town.
Observeobserved / observingTo watch carefully or notice somethingScientists observed the animals in their natural habitat.
Obsessobsessed / obsessingTo think about something constantly and excessivelyHe obsessed over every detail of the project.
Obstructobstructed / obstructingTo block or get in the way of somethingThe fallen tree obstructed the road.
Obtainobtained / obtainingTo get or acquire somethingShe obtained a degree in engineering.
Occupyoccupied / occupyingTo fill or take up a space, position, or timeThe army occupied the town for months.
Occuroccurred / occurringTo happen or take placeThe accident occurred late at night.
Offendoffended / offendingTo cause someone to feel hurt, angry, or upsetHis comment offended several colleagues.
Offeroffered / offeringTo present something for someone to accept or refuseThey offered her a promotion.
Officiateofficiated / officiatingTo perform the official duties of a role, especially at a ceremonyHer uncle officiated the wedding.
Ogleogled / oglingTo stare at someone in a lustful or admiring wayTourists ogled the sports car parked outside.
Oiloiled / oilingTo apply oil to something, usually to lubricate itHe oiled the squeaky hinge.
Omitomitted / omittingTo leave something out or exclude itShe omitted her middle name from the form.
Openopened / openingTo make something no longer closed, or to begin somethingHe opened the door for her.
Operateoperated / operatingTo work or function, or to perform surgeryThe machine operates on solar power.
Opposeopposed / opposingTo disagree with or resist somethingMany residents opposed the new highway.
Optopted / optingTo choose one option over anotherThey opted for a smaller, quieter wedding.
Orbitorbited / orbitingTo travel in a circular path around another objectThe satellite orbits Earth every 90 minutes.
Orchestrateorchestrated / orchestratingTo carefully organize a complex event or planThe heist was orchestrated by a former banker.
Orderordered / orderingTo command someone to do something, or to request goodsShe ordered a coffee and a croissant.
Organizeorganized / organizingTo arrange things or plan an event in a systematic wayHe organized the files by date.
Originateoriginated / originatingTo begin or come from a particular place or sourceThe tradition originated in ancient Rome.
Oscillateoscillated / oscillatingTo move back and forth in a regular rhythmThe pendulum oscillates steadily.
Ostracizeostracized / ostracizingTo exclude someone from a group deliberatelyThe other students ostracized him after the rumor spread.
Outbidoutbid / outbiddingTo offer a higher price than someone else at an auctionShe outbid everyone for the antique clock.
Outdooutdid / outdoingTo do better than someone elseHe always tries to outdo his older brother.
Outgrowoutgrew / outgrowingTo grow too large for something, or to move beyond a stageThe child outgrew his shoes within months.
Outlastoutlasted / outlastingTo last longer than someone or something elseThe old bridge outlasted three newer ones nearby.
Outlineoutlined / outliningTo give a summary of the main points, or to draw the outer edgeShe outlined her plan before the meeting.
Outliveoutlived / outlivingTo live longer than someone elseThe tortoise outlived its original owner.
Outnumberoutnumbered / outnumberingTo exceed in numberThe visiting fans outnumbered the home crowd.
Outperformoutperformed / outperformingTo do better than someone or something elseThe new engine outperformed the old model.
Outrageoutraged / outragingTo make someone extremely angry or shockedThe decision outraged local residents.
Outrankoutranked / outrankingTo have a higher rank or position than someoneThe colonel outranks the captain.
Outrunoutran / outrunningTo run faster than, or escape from, someone or somethingThe gazelle outran the lion.
Outselloutsold / outsellingTo sell more than a competitorThe new phone outsold last year’s model.
Outshineoutshone / outshiningTo be much better than others, or to shine brighterHer performance outshone everyone else’s.
Outsmartoutsmarted / outsmartingTo defeat someone using cleverness rather than forceThe prey outsmarted the predator.
Outsourceoutsourced / outsourcingTo hire an outside company to do work instead of doing it in-houseThe company outsourced its customer service.
Outstripoutstripped / outstrippingTo exceed or surpass, especially in speed or growthDemand quickly outstripped supply.
Outweighoutweighed / outweighingTo be greater or more significant than something elseThe benefits outweigh the risks.
Outwitoutwitted / outwittingTo defeat someone by being clevererThe fox outwitted the farmer again.
Overachieveoverachieved / overachievingTo perform better than expectedShe overachieved on every assignment this term.
Overactoveracted / overactingTo act in an exaggerated, unnatural wayThe actor overacted during the dramatic scene.
Overburdenoverburdened / overburdeningTo give someone too much responsibility or weightThe new policy overburdened small businesses.
Overchargeovercharged / overchargingTo charge more money than is fair or correctThe mechanic overcharged for the repair.
Overcomeovercame / overcomingTo successfully deal with or defeat a difficultyShe overcame her fear of public speaking.
Overcookovercooked / overcookingTo cook food for too longHe overcooked the steak until it was tough.
Overcrowdovercrowded / overcrowdingTo fill a place with too many people or thingsTourists overcrowded the small beach in summer.
Overdooverdid / overdoingTo do something to an excessive degreeHe overdid the exercise and pulled a muscle.
Overdoseoverdosed / overdosingTo take too much of a drug or medicineThe patient accidentally overdosed on painkillers.
Overdrawoverdrew / overdrawingTo withdraw more money from a bank account than it containsShe overdrew her account paying for the trip.
Overeatoverate / overeatingTo eat more food than is needed or comfortableMany people overeat during the holidays.
Overestimateoverestimated / overestimatingTo judge something to be larger or better than it really isHe overestimated how long the project would take.
Overexposeoverexposed / overexposingTo expose something, like film or skin, to too much light or riskThe photo was overexposed in bright sunlight.
Overflowoverflowed / overflowingTo flow or spill over the edges of a containerThe river overflowed its banks after the storm.
Overhangoverhung / overhangingTo stick out or hang over something belowThe cliff overhangs the beach below.
Overhauloverhauled / overhaulingTo thoroughly examine and repair or improve somethingThe mechanic overhauled the old engine.
Overhearoverheard / overhearingTo accidentally hear a conversation not meant for youI overheard them talking about the surprise party.
Overheatoverheated / overheatingTo become too hotThe laptop overheated after hours of use.
Overindulgeoverindulged / overindulgingTo allow oneself too much of something enjoyable, like food or drinkThey overindulged in dessert at the party.
Overjoyoverjoyed / overjoyingTo make someone extremely happyThe news overjoyed the entire family.
Overlapoverlapped / overlappingTo partly cover or coincide with something elseTheir work schedules overlap on Tuesdays.
Overloadoverloaded / overloadingTo put too much weight, work, or electricity into somethingThe truck was overloaded with cargo.
Overlookoverlooked / overlookingTo fail to notice something, or to have a view over a placeThe hotel room overlooks the ocean.
Overpayoverpaid / overpayingTo pay more than something is worthThey overpaid for the used car.
Overpoweroverpowered / overpoweringTo defeat someone using greater strengthThe champion overpowered his opponent in round two.
Overpriceoverpriced / overpricingTo set the price of something too highThe boutique overpriced its handmade jewelry.
Overproduceoverproduced / overproducingTo manufacture more of something than is neededFarmers overproduced wheat that year, driving prices down.
Overrateoverrated / overratingTo value something more highly than it deservesCritics say the movie is overrated.
Overreachoverreached / overreachingTo try to do more than one is capable of, often failing as a resultThe startup overreached by expanding too quickly.
Overreactoverreacted / overreactingTo react to something with unnecessary force or emotionHe overreacted to the minor criticism.
Overrideoverrode / overridingTo use one’s authority to reject or cancel a decisionThe manager overrode the committee’s decision.
Overruleoverruled / overrulingTo reject a decision using higher authorityThe judge overruled the objection.
Overrunoverran / overrunningTo spread over and occupy a place quickly, or exceed a limitWeeds overran the abandoned garden.
Overseeoversaw / overseeingTo supervise a person, project, or processShe oversees the entire marketing department.
Overselloversold / oversellingTo exaggerate the value of something when promoting itThe salesman oversold the car’s fuel efficiency.
Overshadowovershadowed / overshadowingTo make something seem less important by comparisonThe scandal overshadowed his achievements.
Overshootovershot / overshootingTo go beyond an intended target or limitThe pilot overshot the runway slightly.
Oversimplifyoversimplified / oversimplifyingTo make something seem simpler than it really isThe report oversimplified a complex economic issue.
Oversleepoverslept / oversleepingTo sleep longer than intended, missing a scheduled timeHe overslept and missed his flight.
Overspendoverspent / overspendingTo spend more money than planned or availableThe family overspent on holiday gifts.
Overstateoverstated / overstatingTo describe something as bigger or more important than it isHe overstated his role in the project’s success.
Overstayoverstayed / overstayingTo stay somewhere longer than allowed or intendedThe tourists overstayed their visa by two weeks.
Overstepoverstepped / oversteppingTo go beyond acceptable limits or boundariesThe assistant overstepped her authority.
Overtakeovertook / overtakingTo pass or move ahead of someone or somethingThe cyclist overtook the leader on the final hill.
Overthinkoverthought / overthinkingTo think about something too much or for too longShe overthinks every decision she makes.
Overthrowoverthrew / overthrowingTo remove a government or leader from power by forceRebels overthrew the dictator after years of unrest.
Overturnoverturned / overturningTo turn something upside down, or to reverse a decisionThe court overturned the earlier verdict.
Overuseoverused / overusingTo use something too much, often causing damage or reducing its valueOverusing antibiotics can lead to resistance.
Overvalueovervalued / overvaluingTo consider something worth more than its actual valueInvestors overvalued the struggling company’s stock.
Overwhelmoverwhelmed / overwhelmingTo affect someone with too much of something, leaving them unable to copeThe workload overwhelmed the new intern.
Overworkoverworked / overworkingTo work too much, or to make someone work excessivelyShe overworked herself trying to meet the deadline.
Overwriteoverwrote / overwritingTo replace existing data or text with new informationThe new file overwrote the earlier saved version.
Oweowed / owingTo be in debt to someone, or to feel obligated because of a favorHe still owes his brother fifty dollars.
Ownowned / owningTo possess something as propertyThey own a small house near the coast.
Oxidizeoxidized / oxidizingTo combine chemically with oxygen, often causing rust or decayThe iron gate oxidized after years in the rain.

Descriptions

Obey
A verb meaning to follow instructions or authority; commonly used for laws, rules, or commands given by someone in charge.
Object
Used when someone voices disapproval or protest, often in formal settings like courtrooms, debates, or meetings.
Oblige
Describes a sense of duty or the act of doing something as a favor for another person.
Obliterate
A strong verb for total destruction, often used dramatically in writing about disasters or overwhelming defeats.
Observe
Common in scientific and everyday contexts for watching, noticing, or following a rule or custom.
Obsess
Describes an intense, often unhealthy preoccupation with a person, idea, or task.
Obstruct
Used when something physically or figuratively blocks progress, movement, or a process.
Obtain
A formal verb for acquiring something through effort, request, or purchase.
Occupy
Used for physically inhabiting a place, holding a position, or keeping someone busy.
Occur
A neutral verb describing an event happening, often used in formal or reported writing.
Offend
Describes an action or remark that upsets or insults another person.
Offer
A common verb for proposing help, goods, or opportunities to someone else.
Officiate
Used for presiding over events like weddings or sports matches in an official capacity.
Ogle
An informal verb describing a lingering, often inappropriate, stare.
Oil
Refers to lubricating machinery or parts with oil to keep them running smoothly.
Omit
Used when something is deliberately or accidentally left out of a list, text, or process.
Open
One of the most common English verbs, used for physical opening and for starting events or businesses.
Operate
Used for running machines and businesses, and specifically for performing surgical procedures.
Oppose
Describes active resistance or disagreement with a plan, idea, or person.
Opt
A short, common verb for making a deliberate choice, often followed by “for” or “to.”
Orbit
Mainly used in astronomy to describe one body circling another due to gravity.
Orchestrate
Often used for skillfully planning and coordinating a complicated event, sometimes with a hint of scheming.
Order
Common in both commanding contexts (giving instructions) and everyday transactions (requesting items).
Organize
A widely used verb for arranging, planning, or coordinating people, events, or objects.
Originate
Used to describe the source or starting point of an idea, custom, or object.
Oscillate
Common in physics for repetitive motion, and figuratively for wavering between opinions.
Ostracize
Describes deliberately shutting someone out of a social group or community.
Outbid
Used specifically in auction or competitive bidding contexts.
Outdo
Describes surpassing another person’s performance or achievement.
Outgrow
Used for physical growth beyond a size, or maturing past a habit or interest.
Outlast
Describes enduring longer in time than a rival, object, or situation.
Outline
Common for summarizing key points of a plan or for sketching the border of a shape.
Outlive
Used when someone or something survives beyond another’s lifespan.
Outnumber
Describes one group being larger in quantity than another.
Outperform
Common in business and sports for exceeding expected or competing results.
Outrage
Describes provoking intense anger or moral indignation in others.
Outrank
Used in military, corporate, or hierarchical contexts to compare rank.
Outrun
Describes physically outpacing a pursuer or competitor.
Outsell
Common in retail and business to compare sales performance.
Outshine
Used when someone clearly surpasses others in skill, talent, or brightness.
Outsmart
Describes winning through cunning or clever strategy rather than strength.
Outsource
A business term for delegating tasks or production to external providers.
Outstrip
Common in economic and growth contexts to describe one thing exceeding another.
Outweigh
Used to compare importance, value, or weight between two things.
Outwit
Describes gaining an advantage over someone through intelligence or trickery.
Overachieve
Used for exceeding normal or expected standards of performance.
Overact
Common in theater and film criticism for excessive, unconvincing performance.
Overburden
Describes placing an excessive load, task, or responsibility on someone.
Overcharge
Used when a price exceeds what is reasonable or agreed upon.
Overcome
A common verb for triumphing over an obstacle, challenge, or emotion.
Overcook
Describes food being cooked past the ideal point, affecting taste or texture.
Overcrowd
Used when a space holds more people or objects than it comfortably can.
Overdo
Common warning verb for pushing an activity too far, causing harm or excess.
Overdose
A medical term for consuming a dangerously excessive amount of a substance.
Overdraw
A banking term for spending beyond the available balance in an account.
Overeat
Describes consuming more food than the body needs, often at a single sitting.
Overestimate
Used when a guess or judgment exceeds the actual value or size.
Overexpose
Common in photography for excess light exposure, and figuratively for excessive public exposure.
Overflow
Describes liquid, or figuratively emotion or crowds, exceeding normal limits.
Overhang
Used for something that protrudes or extends over another object or area.
Overhaul
Common in engineering and policy contexts for a complete inspection and renovation.
Overhear
Describes unintentionally catching part of someone else’s conversation.
Overheat
Common for machines, engines, or the body becoming excessively warm.
Overindulge
Describes excessive enjoyment of food, drink, or pleasure beyond moderation.
Overjoy
Used to describe an intense feeling of happiness caused by good news or events.
Overlap
Describes two things partially occupying the same space, time, or topic.
Overload
Common for exceeding a safe or reasonable capacity, whether physical or mental.
Overlook
Used both for missing a detail and for describing a high vantage point over scenery.
Overpay
Describes spending more money than the fair or expected price.
Overpower
Used for dominating someone physically, or figuratively for a strong sensation overwhelming the senses.
Overprice
Common in retail for setting a cost beyond a product’s real or perceived value.
Overproduce
Used in agriculture and manufacturing when supply exceeds demand.
Overrate
Describes giving something more praise or importance than it actually merits.
Overreach
Common for ambition exceeding practical limits, leading to failure or setback.
Overreact
Describes responding to a situation with more emotion or drama than warranted.
Override
Used when a person or system replaces an existing decision, rule, or setting with their own.
Overrule
Common in legal and formal settings for reversing another’s ruling or decision.
Overrun
Describes something spreading beyond its boundaries, whether physically or in terms of time or budget.
Oversee
Common workplace verb for managing or supervising people and tasks.
Oversell
Describes promoting something with claims that exceed its real qualities.
Overshadow
Used when one event or person diminishes attention given to another.
Overshoot
Common for exceeding a target, whether physical distance, time, or budget.
Oversimplify
Describes reducing a complicated topic to a misleadingly basic explanation.
Oversleep
A common everyday verb for waking up later than planned.
Overspend
Used for exceeding a budget, whether personal, household, or governmental.
Overstate
Describes exaggerating facts or claims beyond their true scale.
Overstay
Common in travel and hospitality contexts for exceeding a permitted or polite length of stay.
Overstep
Used when someone exceeds the limits of their role, rules, or good manners.
Overtake
Common in racing and driving contexts, and figuratively for surpassing a rival.
Overthink
Describes excessive worrying or analysis, often leading to indecision.
Overthrow
A political verb for forcibly ending someone’s rule or authority.
Overturn
Used both physically, for flipping something over, and legally, for reversing a ruling.
Overuse
Describes excessive use of a resource, word, or substance beyond a healthy or effective amount.
Overvalue
Common in finance for assigning excessive worth to an asset or idea.
Overwhelm
Describes being emotionally or practically buried under too much force, emotion, or information.
Overwork
Used for excessive labor that leads to fatigue or burnout.
Overwrite
A common computing term for replacing stored data, though also used generally for writing over something.
Owe
Describes a financial debt or a sense of obligation toward another person.
Own
A fundamental verb for having legal possession of property, objects, or, informally, admitting a fault.
Oxidize
A chemistry term describing a reaction with oxygen that often causes rusting, browning, or corrosion.
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