This list covers 100 verbs starting with the letter S, running alphabetically from “Sail” to “Study.” These words cover a wide range of everyday actions, from physical movements like “shake” and “sprint” to mental and emotional actions like “seem” and “satisfy.” You’ll find them useful for building vocabulary, writing more precisely, and understanding how English expresses action, change, and state.

Verbs are words that express an action, occurrence, or state of being, forming the core of nearly every sentence. English verbs change form to show tense, and many S-verbs are irregular, like “sing,” which becomes “sang” and “sung” instead of following the regular “-ed” pattern. Learning these patterns helps you speak and write with more confidence and accuracy.

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

Word: the base form of each verb in the list, shown exactly as you’d look it up in a dictionary or use it in its simplest form.

Tense Forms: the past and past participle forms of the verb, so you can see how it changes across regular and irregular conjugation patterns.

Definition: a short, clear explanation of what the verb means, helping you understand its core sense before seeing it used in context.

Example Usage: a sample sentence showing the verb in action, so you can see how it fits naturally into everyday speech and writing.

Description: a fuller explanation that expands on the definition, covering related meanings, common contexts, and how the verb is typically used.

Verbs

WordTense FormsDefinitionExample Usage
Sailsailed, sailedto travel on water using a boat or ship“They sailed across the Atlantic in two weeks.”
Salutesaluted, salutedto greet with a formal gesture, often raising the hand“The soldier saluted his commanding officer.”
Satisfysatisfied, satisfiedto fulfill a need, desire, or requirement“The meal satisfied her hunger completely.”
Savesaved, savedto keep safe from harm or set aside for later use“He saved money every month for a new car.”
Savorsavored, savoredto enjoy something slowly and fully“She savored every bite of the dessert.”
Saysaid, saidto speak words aloud“He said he would be late.”
Scanscanned, scannedto look over quickly or digitize with a device“She scanned the document into her computer.”
Scarescared, scaredto frighten someone“The loud noise scared the cat.”
Scatterscattered, scatteredto throw or spread things in different directions“The wind scattered the leaves across the yard.”
Schedulescheduled, scheduledto plan an event for a specific time“They scheduled the meeting for Monday.”
Scoldscolded, scoldedto criticize someone angrily for wrongdoing“The teacher scolded the students for talking.”
Scorescored, scoredto earn points in a game or grade a test“She scored the winning goal in overtime.”
Scrapescraped, scrapedto rub or drag a hard object across a surface“He scraped the mud off his boots.”
Scratchscratched, scratchedto rub or mark with something sharp“The cat scratched the furniture.”
Screamscreamed, screamedto shout in a high-pitched voice, usually from fear or excitement“She screamed when she saw the spider.”
Screenscreened, screenedto examine or test something, or show a film“The hospital screened patients for the virus.”
Scrubscrubbed, scrubbedto clean by rubbing hard“She scrubbed the pots after dinner.”
Searchsearched, searchedto look for something carefully“They searched the house for the missing keys.”
Seasonseasoned, seasonedto add flavor to food, or to gain experience over time“She seasoned the soup with pepper and herbs.”
Securesecured, securedto make something safe or fasten it firmly“He secured the ladder before climbing.”
Seesaw, seento perceive with the eyes“I saw a rainbow after the storm.”
Seeksought, soughtto search for or try to obtain something“She sought advice from a mentor.”
Seemseemed, seemedto appear to be a certain way“He seemed tired after the long trip.”
Seizeseized, seizedto grab suddenly and firmly“The police seized the stolen goods.”
Selectselected, selectedto choose from a group of options“She selected the blue dress for the party.”
Sellsold, soldto exchange something for money“He sold his old bicycle online.”
Sendsent, sentto cause something to go somewhere“She sent the package by mail.”
Separateseparated, separatedto divide or keep apart“They separated the recyclables from the trash.”
Serveserved, servedto provide a service or give out food“The waiter served the food quickly.”
Setset, setto put something in a specific place or position“She set the table for dinner.”
Settlesettled, settledto resolve a dispute or establish residence somewhere“They settled the argument peacefully.”
Sewsewed, sewn (or sewed)to join or repair fabric with a needle and thread“She sewed a button back onto her shirt.”
Shakeshook, shakento move quickly back and forth or up and down“The building shook during the earthquake.”
Shapeshaped, shapedto give a particular form to something“The sculptor shaped the clay into a vase.”
Shareshared, sharedto give a portion of something to others“They shared the pizza equally.”
Sharpensharpened, sharpenedto make an edge or point keener“He sharpened his pencil before the test.”
Shattershattered, shatteredto break suddenly into many pieces“The glass shattered when it hit the floor.”
Shaveshaved, shavedto remove hair close to the skin with a blade“He shaved his beard before the interview.”
Shedshed, shedto lose or get rid of something, like hair, skin, or tears“The dog sheds fur every spring.”
Shiftshifted, shiftedto move or change position or focus“The wind shifted direction suddenly.”
Shineshone (or shined), shone (or shined)to give off light or look bright“The sun shone brightly all afternoon.”
Shivershivered, shiveredto shake slightly from cold or fear“She shivered in the cold wind.”
Shockshocked, shockedto surprise or disturb someone greatly“The news shocked the entire town.”
Shootshot, shotto fire a weapon or move quickly, or to film something“He shot an arrow at the target.”
Shopshopped, shoppedto go out and buy goods“They shopped for groceries on Saturday.”
Shoutshouted, shoutedto say something very loudly“He shouted for help across the field.”
Showshowed, shownto let something be seen“She showed him the photos from her trip.”
Showershowered, showeredto wash under running water, or to give generously“He showered before going to work.”
Shrinkshrank (or shrunk), shrunkto become smaller“The sweater shrank in the wash.”
Shrugshrugged, shruggedto raise the shoulders to show indifference or uncertainty“She shrugged when asked about the delay.”
Shutshut, shutto close something“Please shut the door behind you.”
Sighsighed, sighedto breathe out slowly and audibly, often from emotion“She sighed with relief after the exam.”
Signsigned, signedto write one’s name to authorize a document“He signed the contract yesterday.”
Signalsignaled, signaledto communicate using a gesture or sound“The driver signaled before turning.”
Singsang, sungto make musical sounds with the voice“She sang a lullaby to the baby.”
Sinksank, sunkto go down below the surface, especially in water“The ship sank after hitting the iceberg.”
Sipsipped, sippedto drink in small amounts“She sipped her tea slowly.”
Sitsat, satto rest on the buttocks with the body upright“He sat on the bench and read a book.”
Sketchsketched, sketchedto draw roughly and quickly“The artist sketched the skyline in minutes.”
Skiskied, skiedto glide over snow on skis“They skied down the mountain slope.”
Skipskipped, skippedto move with light hopping steps, or to omit something“The kids skipped down the sidewalk.”
Slamslammed, slammedto shut or hit something forcefully and loudly“He slammed the door in anger.”
Slapslapped, slappedto hit with an open hand“She slapped the mosquito on her arm.”
Slashslashed, slashedto cut with a sweeping motion, or reduce sharply“The company slashed prices for the sale.”
Slayslew (or slayed), slain (or slayed)to kill in a violent way, or informally, to impress greatly“The knight slew the dragon in the story.”
Sleepslept, sleptto rest with eyes closed and reduced consciousness“The baby slept through the night.”
Slicesliced, slicedto cut into thin pieces“She sliced the bread for sandwiches.”
Slideslid, slidto move smoothly over a surface“The kids slid down the playground slide.”
Slipslipped, slippedto lose one’s footing and fall, or move quietly“He slipped on the icy sidewalk.”
Smashsmashed, smashedto break violently into pieces“The ball smashed the window.”
Smellsmelled (or smelt), smelled (or smelt)to detect an odor, or to give off an odor“She smelled the fresh bread baking.”
Smilesmiled, smiledto curve the lips upward to show happiness“He smiled when he saw his old friend.”
Smokesmoked, smokedto inhale and exhale smoke from a cigarette, or to give off smoke“He used to smoke cigarettes daily.”
Sneaksneaked (or snuck), sneaked (or snuck)to move quietly and secretly“She snuck out of the house at midnight.”
Sneezesneezed, sneezedto expel air suddenly through the nose and mouth“He sneezed several times from the pollen.”
Solvesolved, solvedto find the answer to a problem“She solved the math equation quickly.”
Sortsorted, sortedto arrange things into groups or order“He sorted the laundry by color.”
Soundsounded, soundedto produce noise, or to seem a certain way“The alarm sounded at midnight.”
Speakspoke, spokento say words out loud, to talk“She spoke confidently during the presentation.”
Speedsped (or speeded), sped (or speeded)to move quickly, or to drive faster than allowed“He sped down the highway.”
Spellspelled (or spelt), spelled (or spelt)to write or say the letters of a word in order“Can you spell your last name for me?”
Spendspent, spentto use money, or to pass time doing something“They spent the weekend at the beach.”
Spillspilled (or spilt), spilled (or spilt)to cause liquid to flow out accidentally“She spilled coffee on her shirt.”
Spinspun, spunto turn around quickly on an axis“The dancer spun gracefully across the stage.”
Splitsplit, splitto divide into parts“They split the bill evenly.”
Spoilspoiled (or spoilt), spoiled (or spoilt)to become unusable or rotten, or to overindulge someone“The milk spoiled after sitting out too long.”
Spraysprayed, sprayedto scatter liquid in fine drops“She sprayed perfume on her wrist.”
Spreadspread, spreadto extend over an area, or apply a substance across a surface“She spread butter on the toast.”
Sprintsprinted, sprintedto run at full speed for a short distance“He sprinted the last hundred meters of the race.”
Squeezesqueezed, squeezedto press firmly from opposite sides“She squeezed the lemon into her tea.”
Standstood, stoodto be in an upright position on the feet“He stood by the door waiting.”
Startstarted, startedto begin an action or process“The movie starts at eight o’clock.”
Staystayed, stayedto remain in a place or condition“They stayed at a hotel near the beach.”
Stealstole, stolento take something without permission“The thief stole her purse.”
Stickstuck, stuckto become attached or fixed to something“The gum stuck to his shoe.”
Stingstung, stungto cause a sharp pain, often by an insect or plant“A bee stung him on the arm.”
Stinkstank (or stunk), stunkto smell very unpleasant“The old shoes stank badly.”
Stopstopped, stoppedto cease moving or an activity“The car stopped at the red light.”
Strikestruck, struck (or stricken)to hit forcefully, or to refuse to work in protest“Lightning struck the old oak tree.”
Studystudied, studiedto learn about a subject through reading and practice“She studied biology at university.”

Descriptions

Sail
To sail means traveling over water in a boat, often powered by wind or engine, for travel, sport, or exploration.
Salute
To salute is to show respect through a formal gesture, commonly used in the military to greet officers or honor flags.
Satisfy
To satisfy means meeting someone’s needs, wishes, or expectations so they feel content or fulfilled.
Save
To save means protecting something from danger or loss, or setting resources aside for future use.
Savor
To savor is to take time appreciating a taste, experience, or moment, rather than rushing through it.
Say
To say means expressing thoughts or information through spoken words, one of the most basic verbs in English.
Scan
To scan means examining something rapidly with the eyes, or converting a physical item into a digital image using a scanner.
Scare
To scare means causing fear or alarm in a person or animal, often suddenly and unexpectedly.
Scatter
To scatter is to spread objects or people apart randomly, often by force such as wind or a sudden disturbance.
Schedule
To schedule means arranging for something to happen at a particular date and time, keeping plans organized.
Scold
To scold is to reprimand someone sharply, usually because they did something wrong or misbehaved.
Score
To score means achieving points in a competition or assigning a grade or rating to something.
Scrape
To scrape is to remove material from a surface using friction, often with an edged tool, or to graze the skin.
Scratch
To scratch means dragging nails or a sharp object across a surface, often to relieve an itch or leave a mark.
Scream
To scream is to let out a loud, high-pitched cry, typically triggered by fear, pain, or excitement.
Screen
To screen means checking or testing people or things for a specific purpose, or displaying a movie for an audience.
Scrub
To scrub is to clean a surface vigorously, usually with a brush and soap, to remove dirt or stains.
Search
To search means looking thoroughly for something or someone, whether physically or through information sources.
Season
To season means adding spices or flavoring to food, or figuratively, becoming more experienced through practice.
Secure
To secure means making something safe from danger or making sure it’s firmly fixed in place.
See
To see is to use your eyes to notice or observe something, one of the fundamental human senses.
Seek
To seek means actively looking for something, whether it’s an object, information, or a goal like advice or approval.
Seem
To seem describes how something appears or comes across, even if that impression isn’t fully confirmed.
Seize
To seize means taking hold of something quickly and forcefully, often by force or authority.
Select
To select is to carefully choose one or more items from a range of possibilities.
Sell
To sell means giving up ownership of goods or services in exchange for payment.
Send
To send means causing an item, message, or person to travel from one place to another.
Separate
To separate means dividing something into parts or keeping things apart that were previously together.
Serve
To serve means providing help, food, or a service to someone, often in a professional or hospitable role.
Set
To set means placing an object somewhere purposefully, or establishing something like a rule, time, or record.
Settle
To settle means resolving a disagreement, or establishing oneself permanently in a new place.
Sew
To sew means using a needle and thread to join fabric pieces together or mend torn clothing.
Shake
To shake means moving rapidly with short, back-and-forth motions, often from vibration, fear, or physical force.
Shape
To shape means forming or molding something into a particular structure, or influencing how something develops.
Share
To share means dividing something so multiple people can each have a part, or communicating information with others.
Sharpen
To sharpen means making a blade or point finer and more effective for cutting, or improving a skill.
Shatter
To shatter means breaking violently into small fragments, often used for glass or, figuratively, for hopes or dreams.
Shave
To shave means using a razor to cut hair very close to the skin, typically on the face or legs.
Shed
To shed means naturally losing something, such as fur, skin, or leaves, or getting rid of something no longer needed.
Shift
To shift means moving from one position, state, or focus to another, whether physically or in attitude.
Shine
To shine means emitting or reflecting light, or figuratively, excelling and standing out in a particular skill.
Shiver
To shiver means trembling with small, quick movements, usually caused by cold temperatures or fear.
Shock
To shock means causing intense surprise, disturbance, or emotional impact, often from unexpected or upsetting events.
Shoot
To shoot means firing a projectile from a weapon, moving suddenly and quickly, or capturing footage with a camera.
Shop
To shop means visiting stores or browsing to purchase goods, a common everyday activity.
Shout
To shout means raising your voice loudly, often to get attention or express strong emotion.
Show
To show means presenting something so it can be seen or understood, whether an object, action, or feeling.
Shower
To shower means bathing under a stream of water, or figuratively, giving someone gifts or praise generously.
Shrink
To shrink means becoming reduced in size, amount, or value, often unintentionally, like fabric after washing.
Shrug
To shrug means briefly lifting the shoulders, a gesture that typically signals not knowing or not caring about something.
Shut
To shut means closing something, such as a door, window, or container, so it’s no longer open.
Sigh
To sigh means exhaling audibly and slowly, often expressing relief, sadness, tiredness, or frustration.
Sign
To sign means writing your signature on a document, often to approve, authorize, or confirm agreement.
Signal
To signal means sending a sign, gesture, or sound to communicate information or intent to someone else.
Sing
To sing means producing musical sounds with your voice, typically following a melody and often with lyrics.
Sink
To sink means descending below a surface, most commonly used for something going underwater or downward.
Sip
To sip means drinking a liquid in small, careful amounts rather than gulping it down quickly.
Sit
To sit means resting your body in a seated position, typically with your weight on your bottom rather than your feet.
Sketch
To sketch means drawing a quick, rough outline of something, often as a preliminary version of a more detailed piece.
Ski
To ski means moving across snow using long, narrow boards attached to the feet, a popular winter sport.
Skip
To skip means moving with a light, hopping gait, or alternatively, deliberately leaving something out or missing an event.
Slam
To slam means closing or striking something with sudden force, usually producing a loud noise.
Slap
To slap means striking something or someone quickly with the flat of the hand, often making a sharp sound.
Slash
To slash means cutting with a forceful, sweeping motion, or figuratively, reducing something like a price or budget drastically.
Slay
To slay traditionally means killing someone or something violently, though today it’s also used informally to mean doing something impressively well.
Sleep
To sleep means entering a natural state of rest where the body and mind are inactive, essential for health.
Slice
To slice means cutting something, usually food, into thin, even pieces using a sharp blade.
Slide
To slide means moving smoothly across a surface without lifting off it, often used for playground equipment or slipping motions.
Slip
To slip means losing balance and sliding unintentionally, or moving somewhere quietly and unnoticed.
Smash
To smash means breaking something forcefully and suddenly, often causing loud noise and scattered fragments.
Smell
To smell means perceiving scents through the nose, or emitting an odor that others can detect.
Smile
To smile means turning up the corners of the mouth, usually to express happiness, friendliness, or amusement.
Smoke
To smoke means inhaling and exhaling tobacco smoke, or more generally, releasing smoke, as a fire does.
Sneak
To sneak means moving stealthily to avoid being noticed, often to do something without permission.
Sneeze
To sneeze means suddenly and forcefully expelling air through the nose and mouth, usually triggered by irritation or allergies.
Solve
To solve means finding a solution to a problem, puzzle, or question through reasoning or calculation.
Sort
To sort means organizing items into categories or a specific order based on shared characteristics.
Sound
To sound means producing an audible noise, or describing how something comes across, such as an idea seeming reasonable.
Speak
To speak means using your voice to communicate words, whether in conversation, a speech, or another language.
Speed
To speed means moving very quickly, and in driving contexts, often refers to exceeding the legal limit.
Spell
To spell means naming or writing the individual letters of a word in their correct sequence.
Spend
To spend means paying out money for something, or using time on a particular activity.
Spill
To spill means accidentally letting a liquid or substance flow out of its container, often making a mess.
Spin
To spin means rotating quickly around a central point, whether it’s a person, object, or wheel.
Split
To split means dividing something into two or more parts, whether physically or in terms of sharing costs or duties.
Spoil
To spoil means going bad, especially food, or giving someone so much that it negatively affects their character.
Spray
To spray means dispersing a liquid in a fine mist, usually using a pressurized container or nozzle.
Spread
To spread means covering a surface with something, or extending or expanding over a wider area or among more people.
Sprint
To sprint means running as fast as possible over a short distance, common in track events and casual dashes.
Squeeze
To squeeze means applying pressure to something from multiple sides, often to extract liquid or to fit into a tight space.
Stand
To stand means being upright on your feet, or figuratively, supporting or tolerating a particular situation or belief.
Start
To start means beginning something, whether it’s an activity, a machine, or an event.
Stay
To stay means remaining in a particular location, situation, or state rather than leaving or changing.
Steal
To steal means taking someone else’s property without permission or right, an act generally considered a crime.
Stick
To stick means adhering firmly to a surface, or figuratively, persisting with a plan or commitment.
Sting
To sting means inflicting a sharp, often poisonous, prick, typically by insects or plants, or causing a sharp emotional or physical pain.
Stink
To stink means giving off a strong, unpleasant odor, or informally, being very bad at something.
Stop
To stop means ceasing movement, action, or an ongoing process, whether voluntarily or due to an obstacle.
Strike
To strike means hitting something with force, or when workers refuse to work as a form of protest for better conditions.
Study
To study means dedicating time and effort to learning a subject, typically through reading, memorization, and practice.
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