verb
- 01 A2 Elementary
n.a word that describes an action (like 'run'), an event (like 'happen'), or a state (like 'be').
n.a member of the syntactic class that typically functions as the main part of the predicate in a sentence.
Simple“In the sentence 'The cat sleeps on the sofa', the word 'sleeps' is the verb.”
In context“The student struggled to identify the auxiliary verb in the complex sentence, confusing it with the main participle.”
UsageIn English, verbs must agree with their subjects in person and number.
Synonymsaction word - 02 C1 Advanced
n.a command or name for a specific action that a computer program performs on an object.
n.a named operation or method that performs a specific task on a data object within a software system.
Simple“The programmer added a new verb to the system to allow users to delete files.”
In context“The API documentation specifies which verbs are supported for each resource type, such as GET, POST, or DELETE.”
UsageOften used in the context of RESTful APIs or object-oriented programming.
- 03 C2 Proficiency
v.to take a word that is usually a noun and use it as a verb.
v.to convert a non-verb lexical item, typically a noun, into a verb through functional shift or anthimeria.
Simple“People often verb nouns like 'friend' or 'google' in modern conversation.”
In context“Linguistic purists often complain when speakers verb nouns, yet the process has been a fundamental driver of English lexical evolution for centuries.”
Teacher's tipThis is often called 'verbing' in casual discussion; it is very common in business and tech jargon.
Synonymsverbing
From Middle English verbe, directly from Latin verbum (“word, verb”), reinforced by Old French verbe, from Proto-Indo-European *werdʰo-. Doublet of verve and word.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.