Verbs That Start With D
Table of Contents
List of Top 50 Commonly Used Verbs that Start with D
Word |
Definition |
Example |
Dance |
To move rhythmically to music |
"She danced gracefully at the wedding." |
Dare |
To have the courage to do something |
"He dared to climb the tall mountain." |
Damage |
To harm or spoil something |
"The storm damaged several buildings." |
Decorate |
To add items to improve appearance |
"We decorated the room for her birthday." |
Delay |
To postpone or make something late |
"The train was delayed by 30 minutes." |
Deliver |
To bring or hand over something |
"They delivered the package on time." |
Demand |
To insist on having something |
"She demanded an explanation for the delay." |
Deny |
To refuse to acknowledge or accept |
"He denied knowing anything about the accident." |
Depend |
To rely on someone or something |
"The success of the project depends on teamwork." |
Describe |
To give details about something |
"She described the painting vividly." |
Design |
To plan or create something |
"He designed a new app for the company." |
Destroy |
To ruin or annihilate completely |
"The fire destroyed their home." |
Detect |
To discover or identify |
"The sensor detected smoke in the room." |
Determine |
To decide or conclude |
"The results will determine the winner." |
Develop |
To grow or cause to grow |
"She developed her writing skills over time." |
Devote |
To dedicate time or effort to something |
"He devoted his life to helping others." |
Diagnose |
To identify an illness or problem |
"The doctor diagnosed her with pneumonia." |
Differ |
To be unlike or distinct |
"Their opinions differ on the issue." |
Dig |
To break up and move earth |
"He dug a hole to plant the tree." |
Direct |
To manage or guide |
"She directed the movie with precision." |
Discover |
To find something unexpectedly |
"They discovered a hidden cave in the forest." |
Discuss |
To talk about something with others |
"We discussed our vacation plans during lunch." |
Dislike |
To not like something |
"She dislikes spicy food." |
Distribute |
To give out or share |
"The teacher distributed the worksheets." |
Dive |
To jump into water or plunge into an activity |
"He dived into the pool with enthusiasm." |
Divide |
To separate into parts |
"The cake was divided into eight slices." |
Do |
To perform or carry out |
"He always does his homework." |
Dominate |
To have control or influence over |
"The team dominated the competition." |
Drag |
To pull something along the ground |
"She dragged the chair across the room." |
Drain |
To remove liquid from something |
"The plumber drained the water from the sink." |
Draw |
To create an image using a pencil or pen |
"He loves to draw pictures of animals." |
Dream |
To have visions during sleep or aspire to something |
"She dreams of traveling the world." |
Dress |
To put on clothes or decorate |
"He dressed in a formal suit for the event." |
Drink |
To consume liquid |
"She drank a cup of tea." |
Drive |
To operate a vehicle |
"He drove to the city early this morning." |
Drop |
To let something fall |
"She accidentally dropped her keys." |
Drown |
To submerge and suffocate in water |
"He nearly drowned in the deep lake." |
Dry |
To remove moisture |
"The clothes dried quickly in the sun." |
Dust |
To remove dirt from a surface |
"He dusted the shelves thoroughly." |
Dye |
To change the color of something |
"She dyed her hair a vibrant red." |
Duplicate |
To make an exact copy |
"The assistant duplicated the files for backup." |
Dedicate |
To commit time or effort to something |
"She dedicated her book to her family." |
Debate |
To discuss or argue different viewpoints |
"The candidates debated their policies." |
Dominate |
To control or influence strongly |
"She dominated the conversation at the meeting." |
Decrease |
To make something smaller in size or amount |
"The company decreased production costs." |
Deliver |
To fulfill or carry out a promise |
"The team delivered excellent results." |
Detect |
To sense or identify something |
"He detected a faint smell of smoke." |
Delay |
To make something happen later |
"The bad weather delayed our flight." |
Defer |
To postpone or delay |
"He deferred his decision until next week." |
Decline |
To refuse politely or become smaller |
"She declined the invitation to the party." |
Featured Verbs Grouped by Topics
Communication Verbs
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Describe
Definition: To give a detailed account of something.
Example: "She described the new product to the investors."
Synonyms: Explain, Depict, Illustrate. -
Discuss
Definition: To exchange ideas or opinions.
Example: "We discussed our plans for the weekend."
Synonyms: Debate, Talk, Converse. -
Debate
Definition: To formally argue different points of view.
Example: "The candidates debated over the policies."
Synonyms: Argue, Dispute, Contest.
Action Verbs
-
Dance
Definition: To move rhythmically to music.
Example: "They danced to their favorite song at the party."
Synonyms: Groove, Perform, Sway. -
Drive
Definition: To operate a vehicle.
Example: "He drives to work every morning."
Synonyms: Steer, Maneuver, Operate. -
Dive
Definition: To jump into water headfirst.
Example: "She dived into the pool from the diving board."
Synonyms: Plunge, Leap, Submerge.
Emotional Verbs
-
Dislike
Definition: To not like or find unpleasant.
Example: "He dislikes crowded places."
Synonyms: Hate, Abhor, Despise. -
Dream
Definition: To imagine or aspire to something.
Example: "She dreams of starting her own business."
Synonyms: Envision, Aspire, Imagine. -
Devote
Definition: To dedicate oneself to a cause or task.
Example: "He devoted his weekends to volunteering."
Synonyms: Dedicate, Commit, Pledge.
Everyday Use of Verbs
-
Do
-
Example: "I do my homework every day."
-
One of the most common verbs in English, covering actions or tasks.
-
Describe
-
Example: "Can you describe your experience?"
-
Often used in storytelling and explanations.
-
Deliver
-
Example: "The courier delivered the package on time."
-
Essential for services and logistics.
Common Mistakes
-
Confusing “Describe” and “Explain”
-
Mistake: "He explained the painting’s beauty."
-
Correction: "He described the painting’s beauty."
-
Using “Deny” Instead of “Refuse”
-
Mistake: "She denied to help."
-
Correction: "She refused to help."
-
Misusing “Do” for More Specific Verbs
-
Mistake: "He did the drawing."
-
Correction: "He drew the picture."
FAQ
What’s the difference between “Depend” and “Rely”?
"Depend" indicates necessity, while "rely" implies trust or support.
How do I use “Describe” in a sentence?
Use it to provide details, e.g., "She described the scene beautifully."
Can “Develop” be used for personal growth?
Yes, e.g., "She developed her leadership skills through practice."
Is “Drive” always about vehicles?
No, it can also mean to motivate, e.g., "Her ambition drives her success."
How do I differentiate “Detect” and “Discover”?
"Detect" means to notice or identify something hidden, while "discover" refers to finding something new.