This article contains verbs that start with S. Before we go into the details of verbs that begin with S let us talk a little about the letter S itself. S is the nineteenth letter in the Modern English alphabet and the ISO basic Latin alphabet. It is the seventh most common letter in English and the third-most common consonant after T and N.
Letter S is the most common letter for the first letter of a word in the English language. This is why vocabulary items starting with S are great in number, especially verbs that start with S.
Let us also share with you an interesting grammatical notion which every English language user makes use of in his speech and writings frequently. In English and several other languages like Spanish and French, final S is the usual mark of plural nouns. Apart from that we add S to the first form of verbs when they come after singular pronouns.
Let us take an example from the list of verbs that start with S given in this article. The verb share becomes shares when it comes after the pronoun he or she, hence we will say “he shares”, not “he share”. Let us now go through the list of action words starting with S that we have designed for you.
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Verbs That Start with S You Always Use
Verbs are very important for language development because they allow children to start building sentences. Following is a list of verbs that start with S that we always make use of in our daily lives.
1. Shake
- Definition: move (an object) up and down or from side to side with rapid, forceful, jerky movements
- Synonyms: vibrate, jiggle, joggle
- Example: Shake the bottle well before use.
2. Sense
- Definition: perceive by a sense or senses
- Synonyms: feel, observe, notice
- Example: With the first frost, they could sense a change in the days.
3. Spray
- Definition: apply (liquid) to someone or something in the form of tiny drops
- Synonyms: sprinkle, shower, spritz
- Example: The product can be sprayed on to wet or dry hair.
4. Save
- Definition: to free or keep from danger or harm
- Synonyms: rescue, extricate
- Example: They made a belated attempt to save her life.
5. Salute
- Definition: to address with expressions of kind wishes, courtesy, or honor
- Synonyms: acclaim, accredit, applaud
- Example: The soldiers saluted the colonel.
6. Search
- Definition: to examine a place or a person carefully in order to find something or someone
- Synonyms: hunt, look, explore
- Example: The police had a warrant to search the house.
7. Shuffle
- Definition: rearrange a pack of cards by sliding them over each other quickly
- Synonyms: mingle, intermix
- Example: I shuffled the cards and cut the deck.
8. Share
- Definition: have a portion of something with another or others
- Synonyms: split, divide
- Example: Tom shared the pie with Emily.
9. Savor
- Definition: taste good food or drink and enjoy it to the full
- Synonyms: enjoy, relish, experience
- Example: It was the first chocolate he’d tasted for over a year, so he savored every mouthful.
10. Stand
- Definition: have or maintain an upright position, supported by one’s feet
- Synonyms: remain, stay
- Example: Lionel stood in the doorway.
Verbs That Start with S You Usually Use
We have a pretty long list of verbs that we utilize in our daily lives to carry out actions. Following is a list of verbs starting with S that we usually make use of in our daily lives.
1. Start
- Definition: begin or be reckoned from a particular point in time or space
- Synonyms: bolt, jump, startle
- Example: Cricket season starts in September.
2. Spread
- Definition: extend over a large or increasing area
- Synonyms: grow, increase, escalate
- Example: The plague has spread over many states.
3. Shred
- Definition: to cut or tear something roughly into thin strips
- Synonyms: rive, tatter, tear
- Example: Shred the lettuce and arrange it around the edge of the dish.
4. Scold
- Definition: to criticize someone severely
- Synonyms: lecture, rag
- Example: Marilyn scolded the kids for not cleaning up the mess they had made in the kitchen.
5. Sell
- Definition: give something in exchange for money
- Synonyms: dispose of, trade, vend
- Example: Why did you sell your car, Tom?
6. Shrink
- Definition: become smaller in size
- Synonyms: contract, diminish
- Example: Will this shirt shrink in the wash?
7. Squeeze
- Definition: firmly press
- Synonyms: compress, press, crush
- Example: Kate squeezed Tom’s hand affectionately.
8. Surpass
- Definition: exceed; be greater than
- Synonyms: excel, transcend, exceed
- Example: Jimmy was determined to surpass the achievements of his older brothers.
9. Shatter
- Definition: break or cause to break suddenly and violently into pieces
- Synonyms: smash, break
- Example: This type of glass won’t shatter no matter how hard you hit it.
10. Scrub
- Definition: to put an end to something planned
- Synonyms: abort, call off, cancel
- Example: The outdoor art project was scrubbed by Kate.
Verbs That Start with S You Often Use
Verbs are an essential part of speech because a sentence cannot exist without them. Following are some of the verbs beginning with S that we often use in our day-to-day lives.
1. Sharpen
- Definition: to make something sharp or sharper
- Synonyms: edge, grind, hone
- Example: My pencil is blunt – I’ll have to sharpen it.
2. Slam
- Definition: to shove into a closed position with force and noise
- Synonyms: bang, close
- Example: Please don’t slam the door every time you step out.
3. Ship
- Definition: to cause to go or be taken from one place to another
- Synonyms: transfer, transmit, transport
- Example: We shipped those books out yesterday.
4. Screech
- Definition: to cry out loudly and emotionally
- Synonyms: yell, yelp, scream
- Example: Harry was screeching at Elena at the top of his voice.
5. Shoot
- Definition: kill or wound a person or animal with a bullet or arrow
- Synonyms: injure, hit, kill
- Example: He was shot in the leg during an armed robbery.
6. Scamper
- Definition: to go at a pace faster than a walk
- Synonyms: jog, run, sprint
- Example: The toddler scampered off to play.
7. Shower
- Definition: wash oneself in a shower
- Synonyms: wash, bathe
- Example: Joanna showers every morning.
8. State
- Definition: express something definitely or clearly in speech or writing
- Synonyms: express, voice, utter
- Example: The report stated that more than 51 percent of voters failed to participate.
9. Shock
- Definition: cause someone to feel surprised and upset.
- Synonyms: appal, jolt, horrify
- Example: Kanye was shocked at the state of his injuries.
10. Stabilize
- Definition: becoming fixed or stops changing
- Synonyms: fix, freeze, set
- Example: Once your salary stabilizes you can start to save a little money.
Verbs That Start with S You Sometimes Use
In order to carry out certain actions in both verbal and written mediums we use some verbs more than the others. These are some of the verbs starting with letter S that we only use sometimes.
1. Sacrifice
- Definition: offer or kill as a religious sacrifice
- Synonyms: immolate, slaughter
- Example: The goat was sacrificed at the shrine.
2. Sentence
- Definition: declare the punishment decided for an offender
- Synonyms: punish, convict, condemn
- Example: Ten army officers were sentenced to life imprisonment.
3. Screw
- Definition: fasten or tighten with a screw or screws
- Synonyms: fasten, secure, fix
- Example: Screw the hinge to your new door.
4. Squint
- Definition: to look or peer with eyes partly closed
- Synonyms: gawk, goggle
- Example: The bright sun made them squint.
5. Scrap
- Definition: to express different opinions about something often angrily
- Synonyms: argufy, bicker
- Example: The young couple often scrapped about money and their very disparate spending habits.
6. Skate
- Definition: to move or glide over a surface on skates
- Synonyms: glide, flow, skim
- Example: The ice is hard enough to skate on.
7. Swell
- Definition: become greater in intensity or volume
- Synonyms: expand, bulge, distend
- Example: Bacteria can cause gums to swell and bleed.
8. Specialize
- Definition: become expert in a particular subject
- Synonyms: particularize, specify
- Example: My brother is specializing in tropical medicine.
9. Startle
- Definition: to move suddenly and sharply as in surprise
- Synonyms: bolt, jump, start
- Example: The cat startled when the door slammed shut with a bang.
10. Sag
- Definition: to be limp from lack of water or vigor
- Synonyms: loll, swag, wilt
- Example: The plant’s leaves were sagging feebly in the intense heat.
Verbs That Start with S You Occasionally Use
You must have noticed this thing that some verbs are uttered on specific occasions only. Following are some verb words that start with S that we occasionally make use of.
1. Scowl
- Definition: to look with anger or disapproval
- Synonyms: glower, frown, glare
- Example: Hannah scowled at Mike defiantly.
2. Strum
- Definition: play a guitar by sweeping the thumb up and down across the strings
- Synonyms: play, pluck, thrum
- Example: Jack is strumming his guitar in his bedroom.
3. Scoop
- Definition: pick up and move something with a scoop
- Synonyms: bucket, dip, lade
- Example: I scooped the grain into the bag.
4. Salvage
- Definition: to succeed in achieving or saving something that is in a difficult situation
- Synonyms: rescue, save, recover
- Example: All attempts to salvage the wrecked ship failed.
5. Scandalize
- Definition: to offend the moral sense of
- Synonyms: displease, offend, outrage
- Example: Mabel was scandalized by Jim’s behavior.
6. Synthesize
- Definition: to make something by synthesis
- Synonyms: manufacture, unify, blend
- Example: The spider can synthesize several different silk proteins.
7. Sabotage
- Definition: to deliberately damage or destroy the property of an enemy or opponent
- Synonyms: wreck, damage, vandalize
- Example: The rebels had tried to sabotage the oil pipeline.
8. Sniffle
- Definition: to breathe in quickly and repeatedly through the nose
- Synonyms: fuss, snivel
- Example: Maria began to sniffle when Tom criticized her.
9. Shed
- Definition: to get rid of as useless or unwanted
- Synonyms: discard, ditch, dump
- Example: You need to shed your old notions of propriety.
10. Sear
- Definition: to burn on the surface
- Synonyms: char, scorch, singe
- Example: Lightly sear the steaks, but don’t cook them all the way through.
Verbs That Start with S You Seldom Use
There are some verbs that are either much complicated or just less common than the rest. Following is a list of action verbs starting with S that we seldom make use of.
1. Secularize
- Definition: convert from religious to secular possession or use
- Synonyms: convert, proselyte, proselytize
- Example: The modern attempt to secularize civilizations is really an attempt to substitute new religions for old.
2. Snivel
- Definition: to cry or whine with snuffling
- Synonyms: sniff, whimper, whine
- Example: The child sniveled until he got his way.
3. Scavenge
- Definition: to search for and collect unwanted food or objects
- Synonyms: search, hunt, look
- Example: We managed to scavenge a lot of furniture from the local rubbish dump.
4. Salve
- Definition: to heal or sooth a wound or burn; to soothe wounded pride or one’s conscience
- Synonyms: lighten, alleviate, soothe
- Example: Buying his wife flowers helped to salve his conscience.
5. Scald
- Definition: to burn the skin with boiling liquid or steam
- Synonyms: burn, scorch, sear
- Example: I dropped a pan of boiling water and scalded my leg.
6. Shrivel
- Definition: to draw into wrinkles especially with a loss of moisture
- Synonyms: dehumidify, dry up, drain
- Example: Plants are shriveling in the heat.
7. Shear
- Definition: cut the wool off a sheep or other animal
- Synonyms: cut, blob, trim
- Example: Paul has never sheared a sheep before.
8. Solemnize
- Definition: formal to mark something officially or formally
- Synonyms: bless, consecrate, sanctify
- Example: The priest solemnized their marriage.
9. Spiritualize
- Definition: elevate to a spiritual level
- Synonyms: baptize, canonize, bless
- Example: The task of spiritualizing institutions of state power did not prove to be easy.
10. Scribble
- Definition: write something carelessly
- Synonyms: scratch, scrawl
- Example: My daughter can’t write yet, but she loves to scribble with a pencil.
Positive Verbs That Start with S
Just like any other letter, there also exist a number of positive verbs that start with S. Explore these verbs to see it for yourself what positivity they bring to the table.
1. Satisfy
- Definition: to make someone happy or contented
- Synonyms: please, content
- Example: My father was greatly satisfied with my result.
2. Settle
- Definition: to reach an agreement about a dispute
- Synonyms: resolve, sort out
- Example: The dispute between John and Jack has got settled.
3. Serve
- Definition: to give food or drink to someone at a meal, in a restaurant, etc.
- Synonyms: provide, supply, provide
- Example: They serve good nosh in the cafeteria.
4. Score
- Definition: to gain a point, goal, run, etc.
- Synonyms: get, gain
- Example: Neymar scored a fine goal.
5. Sympathize
- Definition: to react or respond in sympathy
- Synonyms: agree, support, commend
- Example: I sympathize with you in your bereavement.
6. Sustain
- Definition: strengthen or support physically or mentally
- Synonyms: comfort, help
- Example: His comforting words helped to sustain me in my faith during those dark days.
7. Stimulate
- Definition: to encourage something to develop
- Synonyms: restore, energize, revitalize
- Example: Teachers are trained to stimulate the child’s cognitive processes.
8. Sophisticate
- Definition: to make someone more sophisticated
- Synonyms: refine, reform, transform
- Example: Philip is pretty sure that his wife will sophisticate him.
9. Socialize
- Definition: mix socially with others
- Synonyms: interact, converse
- Example: Our principal loves socializing with his staff.
10. Spruce
- Definition: to make someone neat or stylish in appearance
- Synonyms: tidy, clean, sort out
- Example: Paul went upstairs to spruce up before dinner.
Verbs That Start with S to Describe a Person
Verbs have this amazing trait of explaining the state of being of a person. Following are some of the verbs that start with S to describe a person. Go through these S verbs and find out what they tell us about other people.
1. See
- Definition: perceive with the eyes; discern visually
- Synonyms: discern, perceive, glimpse
- Example: That’s the furthest I can see without glasses.
2. Sing
- Definition: to utter words or sounds in succession with musical modulations of the voice
- Synonyms: chant, intone, yodel
- Example: My wife sang a beautiful song for me.
3. Scream
- Definition: give a long, loud, piercing cry or cries expressing extreme emotion or pain
- Synonyms: shriek, screech, yell
- Example: The man began to scream horribly.
4. Scare
- Definition: to feel frightened, or to cause someone to feel frightened
- Synonyms: frighten, terrify
- Example: A dog scared me last night.
5. Smile
- Definition: to make the corners of your mouth turn up in an expression that shows happiness
- Synonyms: grin, beam, twinkle
- Example: Emma has been smiling broadly.
6. Seem
- Definition: to give the effect of being
- Synonyms: appear, look
- Example: Darcy is 18, but he often seems younger.
7. Shiver
- Definition: shake slightly as a result of being cold
- Synonyms: tremble, quiver, shake
- Example: They were shivering in the damp foggy cold.
8. Shout
- Definition: to utter a loud cry
- Synonyms: yell, roar, cry
- Example: There’s no need to shout! I can hear you!
9. Shudder
- Definition: to shake suddenly and briefly, esp. because of an unpleasant thought or feeling
- Synonyms: shake, shiver, tremble
- Example: I shudder to think how much this is all going to cost.
10. Seethe
- Definition: be filled with intense but unexpressed anger
- Synonyms: boil, rage, simmer
- Example: Eva grinned derisively while I seethed with rage.
Verbs That Start with S – Full List (260 Words)
Now that you’ve mastered the skill of incorporating all of the verbs from the list of verbs that start with S into sentences, we’ll list them all here together with some more amazing S verbs.
- Stamp
- Slit
- Sinew
- Signal
- Standardize
- Study
- Sister
- Select
- Sanction
- Smooth
- Send
- Spirit
- Sniffle
- Scandalize
- Solemnize
- Snap
- Startle
- Stimulate
- Sovietize
- Strut
- Shrug
- Shuffle
- Slam
- Slick
- Shatter
- Scowl
- Suffice
- Shake
- Show
- Steward
- Shut
- Salve
- Spice
- Script
- Survive
- Shear
- Stress
- Strew
- Spread
- Snivel
- Shovel
- Summarize
- Swim
- Stumble
- Scrabble
- Stick
- Scramble
- Season
- Strum
- Stem
- Smile
- Spring
- Settle
- Strip
- Ship
- Sire
- Scrap
- Skylark
- Sleep
- Secularize
- Start
- Stir
- Sympathize
- Spell
- Saw
- Shrink
- Sharpen
- Sear
- Spruce
- Sparkle
- Snug
- Star
- Swallow
- Sway
- Sting
- Stand
- State
- Savvy
- Synchronize
- Soothe
- Saint
- Survey
- Sweep
- Suit
- Shove
- Service
- Strive
- Succeed
- Scoop
- Sow
- Sound
- Sublime
- Salute
- Sponsor
- Speak
- Sophisticate
- Snow
- Shift
- Step
- Style
- Skid
- Slaughter
- Scamper
- Saunter
- Sterilize
- Smear
- Stave
- Store
- Spiritualize
- Score
- Stylize
- Shave
- Stink
- Share
- Spatialize
- Spot
- Shoot
- Squeeze
- Socialize
- Shorten
- Search
- Supple
- Speed
- Substitute
- Suggest
- Spray
- Spill
- Scold
- Scribble
- Sustain
- Shelter
- Separate
- Spin
- Sit
- Scale
- Squat
- Sprain
- Submit
- Strengthen
- Solve
- Shine
- Snuggle
- Seem
- Surround
- Size
- Swap
- Swear
- Scintillate
- Sculp
- Scrub
- Screech
- Spit
- Shred
- Supervize
- Swank
- Sport
- Sing
- Shock
- Split
- Smash
- Shudder
- Scrawl
- Scrutinize
- Satisfy
- Shrivel
- Secure
- Sign
- Sprout
- Skill
- Scratch
- Satirize
- Specialize
- Swell
- Stay
- Sweat
- Square
- Suspect
- Sentinel
- Steady
- Suspend
- Surrender
- Sanctify
- Serve
- Sensitize
- Ski
- Savor
- Soar
- Stable
- Suffer
- Slide
- Sight
- Stop
- Stun
- See
- Set
- Sense
- String
- Surprise
- Support
- Struggle
- Scald
- Sink
- Scrape
- Surpass
- Scare
- Sizzle
- Sail
- Sort
- Spend
- Slow
- Shoe
- Shop
- Smoke
- Smack
- Sabotage
- Seduce
- Seat
- Say
- Sleek
- Shed
- Strike
- Skate
- Squire
- Scream
- Sweeten
- Smell
- Soup
- Spoil
- Suppose
- Stigmatize
- Shape
- Slip
- Stabilize
- Shower
- Supply
- Sugar
- Seethe
- Sentence
- Sensualize
- Subsidize
- Steal
- Signify
- Screw
- Stitch
- Seize
- Sacrifice
- Shout
- Simplify
- Symbolize
- Scavenge
- Sell
- Shiver
- Squint
- Salvage
- Save
- Synthesize
- Swing
- Sew
- Spark
- Sag
Final Thoughts on Verbs That Start with S
Hopefully, this article containing verbs that start with S has been helpful to you. Go through this article a couple of times, and you will surely be able to expand your vocabulary and excel in your writing skills.
There are hundreds of verbs that begin with S, but we went above and beyond to compile a list that will help you learn something new. If you learn these verbs that start with S, you will be able to wow others with your writing and English abilities.
There are some other verbs starting with S that aren’t on this list, and you can look them up in the dictionary if you want to outshine your competitors.
