Verbs That Start With J

Verb

Definition

Example

Jab

To poke or thrust abruptly

"He jabbed the ball with his hockey stick."

Jabber

To speak quickly and incoherently

"She jabbered nervously before the interview."

Jail

To imprison

"The suspect was jailed for theft."

Jam

To block or pack tightly

"The printer jammed while printing."

Jam-pack

To fill completely

"The auditorium was jam-packed with fans."

Jangle

To make a harsh, clashing sound

"Her keys jangled loudly as she walked."

Jar

To cause a sudden, unpleasant effect

"The loud noise jarred my concentration."

Jaw

To talk or argue incessantly

"They jawed about politics for hours."

Jaywalk

To cross the street illegally or recklessly

"He jaywalked across the busy road."

Jazz

To enliven or make more exciting

"The band jazzed up the party with great music."

Jeer

To mock or taunt someone

"The crowd jeered at the opposing team."

Jeopardize

To put something at risk

"He jeopardized his career with that decision."

Jerk

To move suddenly or sharply

"The car jerked forward when the light turned green."

Jet

To move swiftly or travel by jet

"They jetted to Paris for the weekend."

Jettison

To discard or throw something away

"They jettisoned the old furniture during the move."

Jetwash

To create a powerful stream of air or water

"The jetwash from the plane knocked over the cones."

Jibe

To agree or be in harmony

"His story jibes with what we already know."

Jig

To dance or move quickly in a jerky motion

"He jigged with excitement when he won."

Jiggle

To shake or move something slightly

"She jiggled the handle to open the stuck door."

Jilt

To suddenly reject or abandon someone

"She was jilted by her fiancé at the altar."

Jimmy

To force open with a tool

"The thief jimmied the lock on the door."

Jingle

To make a light, ringing sound

"The bells jingled as the sleigh moved."

Jinx

To bring bad luck

"He believes his broken mirror jinxed his week."

Jitter

To move nervously or unsteadily

"He jittered in his chair during the test."

Jive

To dance or talk in a lively, informal way

"They jived to the upbeat music at the club."

Jockey

To maneuver or compete for an advantage

"He jockeyed for position in the traffic jam."

Jog

To run at a steady, gentle pace

"She jogs every morning to stay fit."

Join

To connect or unite with something or someone

"He joined the soccer team last month."

Joint

To connect two things together

"The carpenters jointed the wooden pieces."

Joke

To make humorous remarks

"He joked about the weather during the meeting."

Jolt

To shock or shake suddenly

"The unexpected noise jolted everyone awake."

Josh

To tease someone playfully

"He joshed his friend about their clumsy mistake."

Jostle

To push or shove roughly

"The shoppers jostled for space in the crowded store."

Jot

To write something down quickly

"She jotted down the address on a notepad."

Jounce

To move up and down repeatedly

"The car jounced along the bumpy road."

Journal

To write regularly in a journal

"She journals every evening to reflect on her day."

Journey

To travel from one place to another

"They journeyed across the desert for days."

Joust

To compete or fight for dominance

"The knights jousted in the tournament."

Joyride

To drive a vehicle for fun, often recklessly

"The teenagers were caught joyriding in a stolen car."

Judder

To shake violently or uncomfortably

"The old washing machine juddered during the spin cycle."

Judge

To form an opinion or make a decision

"The jury judged him not guilty."

Juggle

To balance multiple tasks or throw objects in the air

"She juggled her work and studies effectively."

Juice

To extract juice from something

"He juiced oranges for breakfast."

Jumble

To mix or confuse things in disorder

"The papers were jumbled together on the desk."

Jump

To propel oneself into the air

"He jumped over the puddle."

Jumpstart

To revive or activate something

"They jumpstarted the car with a battery pack."

Junk

To discard or throw something away

"They junked the old furniture before moving."

Justify

To explain or provide reasons for something

"She justified her absence with a doctor's note."

Jut

To extend outward or project

"The rock jutted out over the cliff."

Juxtapose

To place things side by side for comparison

"The artist juxtaposed light and shadow in her painting."