This list covers 53 verbs, ranging from “Vacate” to “Vulgarize.” Most of these words describe specific actions or changes of state, from formal legal terms like “vest” and “void” to everyday actions like “visit” and “vote.” You’ll find them useful for writing, conversation, and building a stronger vocabulary in general.
Verbs are words that express actions, occurrences, or states of being, and they form the backbone of every sentence. English has thousands of them, many borrowed from Latin roots like “vac-” (empty) or “vit-” (life), which is why so many V-verbs share a scholarly, precise feel. Interestingly, several of these words, like “vroom,” started as informal or imitative sounds before becoming accepted verbs.
Below you’ll find the table with Verb, Tense Forms, Definition, Example Usage, and Description.
Verb: the word itself, so you can quickly scan the list and find the exact term you’re looking for.
Tense Forms: the base, past, and past participle forms, helping you use each verb correctly in different tenses.
Definition: a short, plain-language explanation of what the verb means and the action it describes.
Example Usage: a sample sentence showing the verb in context, so you can see how it works in real writing.
Description: a fuller explanation of the verb’s meaning, including nuance, common usage, and how it’s typically applied.
Verbs
| Verb | Tense Forms | Definition | Example Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vacate | vacate / vacated / vacated | Leave a place empty | The tenants had to vacate the apartment by month’s end. |
| Vacillate | vacillate / vacillated / vacillated | Waver between choices | She vacillated between the two job offers for weeks. |
| Validate | validate / validated / validated | Confirm something is true or correct | Please validate your parking ticket at the counter. |
| Value | value / valued / valued | Consider something important | She values honesty above all else in a friendship. |
| Vandalize | vandalize / vandalized / vandalized | Deliberately damage property | Someone vandalized the bus stop with spray paint overnight. |
| Vanish | vanish / vanished / vanished | Disappear suddenly | The magician made the coin vanish in an instant. |
| Vanquish | vanquish / vanquished / vanquished | Defeat completely | The knight vanquished the dragon after a long battle. |
| Vaporize | vaporize / vaporized / vaporized | Turn into vapor | The intense heat vaporized the puddle within minutes. |
| Varnish | varnish / varnished / varnished | Coat with a glossy finish | He varnished the wooden table to protect its surface. |
| Vary | vary / varied / varied | Change or differ | Prices vary depending on the season. |
| Vault | vault / vaulted / vaulted | Jump over something | The athlete vaulted over the bar with ease. |
| Vaunt | vaunt / vaunted / vaunted | Boast proudly | The chef vaunted his restaurant’s award-winning menu. |
| Veer | veer / veered / veered | Change direction suddenly | The car veered off the road to avoid the deer. |
| Veil | veil / veiled / veiled | Cover or conceal | Mist veiled the mountaintop for most of the morning. |
| Vend | vend / vended / vended | Sell goods | Street sellers vend snacks along the boardwalk. |
| Venerate | venerate / venerated / venerated | Regard with deep respect | The community venerates its founding elders. |
| Ventilate | ventilate / ventilated / ventilated | Let fresh air circulate | Open the windows to ventilate the room after painting. |
| Venture | venture / ventured / ventured | Dare to go or try | They ventured into the cave despite the warnings. |
| Verbalize | verbalize / verbalized / verbalized | Express in words | It helped him verbalize his frustration instead of bottling it up. |
| Verge | verge / verged / verged | Be on the brink of | The company verged on bankruptcy before the merger. |
| Verify | verify / verified / verified | Confirm accuracy | Please verify your email address to complete registration. |
| Vest | vest / vested / vested | Grant a legal right | Authority to sign contracts is vested in the CEO. |
| Vet | vet / vetted / vetted | Investigate before approval | The company vets all job candidates thoroughly. |
| Veto | veto / vetoed / vetoed | Formally reject a decision | The governor vetoed the proposed budget. |
| Vex | vex / vexed / vexed | Annoy or frustrate | The constant noise vexed the entire office. |
| Vibrate | vibrate / vibrated / vibrated | Move rapidly back and forth | The phone vibrated on the table when it rang. |
| Victimize | victimize / victimized / victimized | Single out for unjust treatment | The scam victimized hundreds of elderly people. |
| Videotape | videotape / videotaped / videotaped | Record on video | The wedding was videotaped by a professional crew. |
| Vie | vie / vied / vied | Compete eagerly | The two candidates vied for the same seat. |
| View | view / viewed / viewed | Look at or consider | Visitors can view the artwork from a roped-off area. |
| Vilify | vilify / vilified / vilified | Speak abusively about someone | The press vilified the executive after the scandal broke. |
| Vindicate | vindicate / vindicated / vindicated | Clear of blame | New evidence vindicated the man after years in prison. |
| Violate | violate / violated / violated | Break a rule or law | The company violated several safety regulations. |
| Virtualize | virtualize / virtualized / virtualized | Create a virtual version | The IT team virtualized the office servers to save space. |
| Visit | visit / visited / visited | Go to see someone or a place | We visited my grandmother over the weekend. |
| Visualize | visualize / visualized / visualized | Form a mental image | Athletes often visualize success before a big competition. |
| Vitalize | vitalize / vitalized / vitalized | Give energy or life to | The new leadership vitalized the struggling department. |
| Vitiate | vitiate / vitiated / vitiated | Spoil or weaken | The error vitiated the entire legal argument. |
| Vivify | vivify / vivified / vivified | Make lively or vivid | Bright colors vivified the once-dull hallway. |
| Vocalize | vocalize / vocalized / vocalized | Express in speech or song | Singers vocalize before a performance to warm up. |
| Vociferate | vociferate / vociferated / vociferated | Shout forcefully | Protesters vociferated their demands outside city hall. |
| Voice | voice / voiced / voiced | Express an opinion | Employees voiced concerns about the new policy. |
| Void | void / voided / voided | Make legally invalid | The court voided the contract due to fraud. |
| Volley | volley / volleyed / volleyed | Hit back and forth rapidly | The tennis players volleyed the ball back and forth at the net. |
| Volunteer | volunteer / volunteered / volunteered | Offer to do something freely | He volunteered to organize the charity event. |
| Vomit | vomit / vomited / vomited | Eject stomach contents | The sick child vomited shortly after eating. |
| Vote | vote / voted / voted | Formally express a choice | Millions of citizens voted in the national election. |
| Vouch | vouch / vouched / vouched | Guarantee reliability | Her colleague vouched for her honesty. |
| Vow | vow / vowed / vowed | Make a solemn promise | The couple vowed to stay together through hardship. |
| Voyage | voyage / voyaged / voyaged | Travel a long distance | The explorers voyaged across the Atlantic in a small ship. |
| Vroom | vroom / vroomed / vroomed | Move fast with a roaring noise | The sports car vroomed past the traffic. |
| Vulcanize | vulcanize / vulcanized / vulcanized | Treat rubber for durability | Tire manufacturers vulcanize rubber to make it more durable. |
| Vulgarize | vulgarize / vulgarized / vulgarized | Lower the tone of something | Critics said the remake vulgarized the original story. |
Descriptions
Vacate
To vacate means to leave a place, job, or position so it becomes empty or available, often to meet a deadline or requirement.
Vacillate
To vacillate is to swing back and forth between opinions or actions, unable to settle on a firm decision.
Validate
Validating means officially confirming that something is accurate, legitimate, or meets required standards, whether it’s data or a document.
Value
To value something means to regard it as important or worthwhile, or to estimate its monetary worth.
Vandalize
Vandalizing is intentionally damaging or defacing property, often as a senseless act with no clear purpose beyond destruction.
Vanish
To vanish is to disappear quickly and often mysteriously, leaving no visible trace behind.
Vanquish
Vanquishing means thoroughly defeating an opponent or challenge, usually in a dramatic or decisive way.
Vaporize
To vaporize is to turn a liquid or solid into gas, often through heat, or to destroy something so thoroughly it seems to disappear.
Varnish
To varnish is to apply a clear, glossy liquid coating to wood or other surfaces to protect and shine them.
Vary
To vary means to show differences across instances, or to deliberately alter something to introduce variety.
Vault
To vault is to leap over an obstacle in one smooth motion, often pushing off with the hands or a pole.
Vaunt
To vaunt is to boast about an achievement or possession, often surviving today in phrases like “vaunted reputation.”
Veer
To veer is to abruptly swerve or change course, whether physically, like a vehicle, or figuratively, like a conversation.
Veil
To veil means to cover something with a veil, or more broadly, to hide or disguise it from view.
Vend
To vend is to offer goods for sale, typically on a small scale, such as from a stall or machine.
Venerate
To venerate is to hold someone or something in deep respect, often bordering on reverence, due to wisdom or sacredness.
Ventilate
Ventilating means letting fresh air flow into an enclosed space, or figuratively, openly expressing pent-up feelings.
Venture
To venture is to take a risk by going somewhere uncertain or attempting something bold, despite potential danger.
Verbalize
To verbalize is to put thoughts or feelings into spoken or written words rather than leaving them unexpressed.
Verge
To verge on something means to come very close to a particular state or condition, often a negative or extreme one.
Verify
To verify means to check that something is true, accurate, or genuine, often through evidence or an official process.
Vest
To vest means to formally give someone a right, power, or property interest, common in legal and financial contexts.
Vet
To vet means to closely check a person’s background or a plan’s details before giving approval, catching problems early.
Veto
To veto is to officially reject or block a proposal or law, a power typically held by a president or official body.
Vex
To vex means to irritate or trouble someone, often over a persistent or puzzling issue.
Vibrate
To vibrate is to shake or oscillate rapidly, whether from mechanical motion, sound waves, or a phone alert.
Victimize
To victimize is to unfairly target someone for harm, exploitation, or unjust treatment, making them a victim.
Videotape
To videotape means to make a video recording of an event, a term that persists even with digital recording.
Vie
To vie is to compete strongly with others for an advantage, prize, or position, implying real effort or rivalry.
View
To view means to look at something, or more broadly, to regard or consider it in a particular way.
Vilify
To vilify is to unfairly attack someone’s character in speech or writing, portraying them as far worse than they are.
Vindicate
To vindicate is to prove that someone was right, innocent, or justified, especially after being doubted or blamed.
Violate
To violate means to break or fail to comply with a law, rule, or promise, or to disrespect someone’s rights.
Virtualize
To virtualize is to create a software-based, rather than physical, version of a computer system or resource.
Visit
To visit is to go somewhere or see someone briefly, typically for social, professional, or touristic reasons.
Visualize
To visualize means to picture something clearly in your mind, a technique commonly used in planning and mental preparation.
Vitalize
To vitalize is to fill something with energy and life, often reviving enthusiasm or activity that had faded.
Vitiate
To vitiate is to weaken or spoil something’s effectiveness, quality, or validity, often used in formal or legal contexts.
Vivify
To vivify means to make something more lively, vivid, or full of energy, often used for art, spaces, or ideas.
Vocalize
To vocalize means to say something out loud or, in music, to practice singing using scales and exercises.
Vociferate
To vociferate is to speak or shout loudly and vehemently, usually while expressing a strong opinion or complaint.
Voice
To voice something is to openly express an opinion, feeling, or concern rather than keeping it to yourself.
Void
To void is to cancel or invalidate something, such as a contract or transaction, making it legally meaningless.
Volley
To volley means to strike a ball before it bounces, or to launch a rapid burst of questions or comments.
Volunteer
To volunteer means to offer your time, help, or services freely, often for a cause or without expecting payment.
Vomit
To vomit is to forcibly expel the contents of the stomach through the mouth, usually due to illness or nausea.
Vote
To vote is to formally indicate your choice or opinion, typically in an election, poll, or group decision.
Vouch
To vouch for someone or something is to personally guarantee their reliability, character, or accuracy based on your own knowledge.
Vow
To vow is to make a serious, formal promise or commitment, often one considered binding or sacred.
Voyage
To voyage means to make a long journey, traditionally by sea, though the word also applies to space and other travel.
Vroom
To vroom is an informal, imitative verb describing fast movement accompanied by a loud roaring engine sound.
Vulcanize
To vulcanize is to treat rubber with heat and sulfur to make it stronger, more elastic, and resistant to wear.
Vulgarize
To vulgarize means to lower the quality or tone of something refined, often by making it cruder for mass appeal.