Verb: meaning, definitions and examples

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verb

 

[ vɜːb ]

Noun / Verb
Context #1 | Noun

in grammar

A word used to describe an action, state, or occurrence, forming the main part of the predicate of a sentence, such as hear, become, happen.

Synonyms

action word, doing word, state word.

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Word Description / Examples
verb

This term is universally used in both casual and formal English to refer to words that describe actions, occurrences, or states.

  • 'Run' is a verb.
  • In the sentence, 'She runs fast,' 'runs' is the verb.
action word

This term is commonly used in elementary education or contexts where the focus is on making language concepts simple and understandable for learners, especially children.

  • Can you identify the action word in the sentence 'The dog barks loudly'?
  • 'Jump' is an action word.
doing word

Similar to 'action word,' this term is often used in early childhood education to simplify the understanding of what verbs are for young learners.

  • In 'He swims every morning,' 'swims' is the doing word.
  • 'Eating' is a doing word that we do every day.
state word

This term is not as commonly used as the others but can be specifically applied when talking about verbs that describe a state rather than an action, often in educational settings.

  • 'Is' in 'She is happy' is a state word.
  • 'Feel' in 'I feel tired' is a state word.

Examples of usage

  • He wrote a letter.
  • She is singing.
  • They have arrived.
  • We will go to the beach.
  • I like to swim.
Context #2 | Verb

in computing

A command or statement in a programming language that tells the computer to perform a specific action.

Synonyms

command, directive, statement.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
verb

Refers to a word that describes an action, state, or occurrence. It is a grammatical term used in the context of language and sentence structure.

  • In the sentence 'She runs daily,' 'runs' is the verb.
  • 'To be' is an example of an irregular verb in English.
command

Used when giving an authoritative or forceful order. It often implies authority or control and may be used in military, formal, or technical settings.

  • The general gave a command to the troops to advance.
  • She received a command from her manager to complete the project by the end of the week.
statement

Used to convey information, beliefs, or opinions. A statement is typically a declarative sentence that provides facts or expresses a stance without necessarily requiring action or response.

  • She made a statement about the importance of mental health awareness.
  • The company's financial statement revealed a significant increase in profits.
directive

Often used in formal or bureaucratic settings, directives are official instructions or orders issued by an authority or governing body. The term suggests a formal written or spoken instruction.

  • The government issued a new directive on energy conservation policies.
  • The CEO's directive was clear: prioritize customer satisfaction above all else.

Examples of usage

  • The function will verb the input data.
  • You need to verb this variable before using it in the code.

Translations

Translations of the word "verb" in other languages:

🇵🇹 verbo

🇮🇳 क्रिया (kriya)

🇩🇪 Verb

🇮🇩 kata kerja

🇺🇦 дієслово

🇵🇱 czasownik

🇯🇵 動詞 (dōshi)

🇫🇷 verbe

🇪🇸 verbo

🇹🇷 fiil

🇰🇷 동사 (dongsa)

🇸🇦 فعل (fi'l)

🇨🇿 sloveso

🇸🇰 sloveso

🇨🇳 动词 (dòngcí)

🇸🇮 glagol

🇮🇸 sagnorð

🇰🇿 етістік

🇬🇪 ზმნა (zmna)

🇦🇿 fel

🇲🇽 verbo

Etymology

The word 'verb' originated from the Latin word 'verbum', meaning 'word'. In Old French, it evolved to 'verbe' before being introduced into the English language. The concept of verbs as action words has been essential in language and grammar since ancient times.

See also: adverb, proverb, verbal, verbalize, verbiage, verbing, verbose, verbosity.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #4,728, this word represents useful upper-intermediate vocabulary. Understanding and using it will help you express more complex ideas effectively.