Verbs That Start With N
Table of Contents
List of Top 50 Verbs That Start With N
Verb |
Definition |
Example |
Nab |
To catch or seize quickly |
"The police nabbed the suspect near the station." |
Nag |
To persistently annoy or complain |
"She nagged him to clean his room." |
Nail |
To fasten or secure with nails |
"He nailed the picture frame to the wall." |
Name |
To assign a designation or title |
"They named their baby after their grandmother." |
Nap |
To take a short sleep |
"She napped on the couch after lunch." |
Narrate |
To tell a story or describe events |
"The author narrated the tale with passion." |
Narrow |
To reduce in width or scope |
"They narrowed the search area." |
Nationalize |
To bring under state control |
"The government nationalized the banks." |
Natter |
To chatter or talk idly |
"They nattered away over coffee." |
Naturalize |
To grant citizenship to a foreigner |
"She was naturalized as a citizen last year." |
Nauseate |
To cause feelings of disgust or sickness |
"The smell nauseated everyone in the room." |
Navigate |
To find the way or direct a course |
"He navigated through the city with a map." |
Neaten |
To make tidy or orderly |
"She neatened her desk before the meeting." |
Necessitate |
To make something necessary |
"The new rules necessitate changes in procedure." |
Need |
To require or be necessary for something |
"He needs help with his project." |
Needle |
To provoke or annoy someone |
"She needled him about his tardiness." |
Negate |
To nullify or make ineffective |
"The evidence negated the defendant's claim." |
Neglect |
To fail to care for or give attention |
"He neglected his plants, and they withered." |
Negotiate |
To discuss and reach an agreement |
"They negotiated a fair contract." |
Neigh |
To make the sound of a horse |
"The horse neighed loudly in the stable." |
Nest |
To build or inhabit a nest |
"The birds nested in the old tree." |
Nestle |
To settle comfortably or snugly |
"She nestled into the soft couch." |
Nettle |
To irritate or provoke |
"His constant interruptions nettled her." |
Network |
To connect with others for mutual benefit |
"He networked with industry professionals at the event." |
Neuter |
To remove reproductive organs from an animal |
"They neutered their pet cat last week." |
Neutralize |
To counteract or make neutral |
"The antidote neutralized the poison." |
Nibble |
To take small bites |
"The mouse nibbled on the cheese." |
Nick |
To cut or scratch slightly |
"He nicked his finger while chopping vegetables." |
Nickname |
To give an informal or affectionate name |
"They nicknamed him 'Speedy' for his fast running." |
Niggle |
To cause slight but persistent annoyance |
"Her constant complaints niggled at him." |
Nip |
To bite or pinch quickly |
"The dog nipped at his heels playfully." |
Nitpick |
To find fault with trivial matters |
"She nitpicked every detail of the report." |
Nod |
To move the head up and down in agreement |
"He nodded to show he understood." |
Nominate |
To formally propose someone for a position |
"She was nominated for the best actress award." |
Nonconform |
To refuse to follow established norms |
"He nonconformed by dressing casually at the formal event." |
Normalize |
To make standard or normal |
"They normalized the data for comparison." |
Notarize |
To certify a document officially |
"The contract was notarized by the lawyer." |
Notate |
To write or record something |
"She notated the music for the performance." |
Note |
To observe or pay attention to |
"He noted the change in her behavior." |
Notice |
To become aware of something |
"She noticed a crack in the ceiling." |
Notify |
To inform or give notice |
"They notified the customers of the price change." |
Nourish |
To provide with food or nutrients |
"She nourished the plants with water and sunlight." |
Novelize |
To adapt a story into novel form |
"The film was novelized by a famous author." |
Nudge |
To gently push or prod |
"She nudged him to get his attention." |
Nullify |
To make invalid or cancel |
"The contract was nullified due to errors." |
Numb |
To make unable to feel sensation |
"The dentist numbed his gums before the procedure." |
Numerate |
To count or calculate |
"She numerated the participants in the survey." |
Nurse |
To care for the sick or injured |
"He nursed his father back to health." |
Nurture |
To care for and encourage growth |
"She nurtured the young artist's talent." |
Nuzzle |
To rub or touch with the nose affectionately |
"The dog nuzzled against her hand." |
Featured Verbs Grouped by Topics
Daily Life Actions
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Nap: To take a short rest or sleep.
Example: "He napped for 20 minutes after lunch."
Synonyms: Doze, Snooze. -
Neaten: To tidy up or organize.
Example: "She neatened her notes before the exam."
Synonyms: Straighten, Arrange. -
Nudge: To gently push or prod.
Example: "He nudged the door open with his foot."
Synonyms: Push, Prod.
Social and Emotional Contexts
-
Nag: To complain or demand persistently.
Example: "She nagged her son to clean his room."
Synonyms: Pester, Harass. -
Nurture: To support and encourage growth or development.
Example: "The teacher nurtured the student's creativity."
Synonyms: Foster, Cultivate. -
Niggle: To annoy or bother slightly.
Example: "The loose thread niggled at her all day."
Synonyms: Irritate, Bother.
Professional and Technical Contexts
-
Negotiate: To discuss terms and reach an agreement.
Example: "The union negotiated better working conditions."
Synonyms: Bargain, Mediate. -
Normalize: To make something standard or typical.
Example: "The therapist helped normalize the patient’s daily routine."
Synonyms: Standardize, Regularize. -
Notarize: To certify a document legally.
Example: "The will was notarized before the lawyer."
Synonyms: Certify, Authenticate.
Everyday Use of Verbs Starting With N
-
Notice
-
Example: "She noticed the error on the form."
-
Frequently used for observing or becoming aware of details.
-
Need
-
Example: "He needs more time to finish the task."
-
A fundamental verb to describe requirements.
-
Nourish
-
Example: "The mother nourished her child with healthy meals."
-
Regularly used to describe care or sustenance.
Common Mistakes
-
Misusing “Nag” as Polite Request
-
Mistake: "She nagged her friend to come over."
-
Correction: "She asked her friend to come over."
-
Tip: Use "nag" for persistent, often annoying demands.
-
Confusing “Nap” and “Sleep”
-
Mistake: "He napped for eight hours last night."
-
Correction: "He slept for eight hours last night."
-
Tip: Use "nap" for short rest periods, not overnight sleep.
-
Overusing “Neaten” for Thorough Cleaning
-
Mistake: "He neatened the dirty kitchen."
-
Correction: "He cleaned the dirty kitchen."
-
Tip: Use "neaten" for organizing, not deep cleaning.
FAQ
What’s the difference between “Neglect” and “Ignore”?
"Neglect" implies failing to care, while "ignore" means intentionally not noticing.
Can “Nurture” and “Nourish” be used interchangeably?
Not always. "Nurture" refers to overall care and support, while "nourish" focuses on providing sustenance.
What are synonyms for “Negotiate”?
Bargain, Mediate, Discuss.
How is “Normalize” used in social contexts?
It refers to making something usual or standard, e.g., "The campaign aims to normalize discussions about mental health."
What does “Nudge” mean metaphorically?
It can mean encouraging someone gently, e.g., "She nudged him to take the promotion."