Updated on December 26, 2024
by PushtoLearn
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Verbs That Start With S

Whether describing movement, like "saunter," or emotional expressions, like "scold", verbs starting with S span a wide range of actions, emotions, and states.

List of Top 50 Verbs That Start With S

Verb

Definition

Example

Sabotage

To deliberately destroy or obstruct

"They sabotaged the project by leaking details."

Sag

To sink or droop

"The old mattress sagged in the middle."

Sail

To travel on water in a boat

"They sailed across the ocean."

Salute

To show respect with a gesture or words

"The soldiers saluted their commander."

Saunter

To walk in a relaxed way

"She sauntered through the park on a sunny day."

Save

To rescue or keep safe

"He saved the files before shutting down the computer."

Savor

To enjoy something deeply

"She savored every bite of the dessert."

Scamper

To run quickly, often playfully

"The children scampered around the playground."

Scare

To frighten someone

"The loud noise scared the baby."

Scold

To criticize or reprimand

"She scolded the dog for chewing the furniture."

Scoop

To pick up or lift with a scoop

"He scooped ice cream into the bowl."

Score

To gain points in a game

"He scored the winning goal in the match."

Scowl

To frown angrily

"She scowled at him for being late."

Scrabble

To scratch or grope clumsily

"He scrabbled for his keys in the dark."

Scramble

To move quickly or climb awkwardly

"She scrambled up the rocky path."

Scrap

To discard or abandon

"They scrapped the old car after the accident."

Scrape

To remove by rubbing

"He scraped the paint off the wall."

Scratch

To make a small cut or mark

"The cat scratched the sofa."

Scrawl

To write carelessly or untidily

"He scrawled his name on the form."

Scream

To make a loud, high-pitched sound

"She screamed when she saw the spider."

Screech

To make a harsh, shrill noise

"The car screeched to a halt."

Screw

To fasten with a screw

"He screwed the shelf into the wall."

Scribble

To write quickly and carelessly

"The toddler scribbled all over the paper."

Scrub

To clean by rubbing hard

"She scrubbed the floor until it was spotless."

Search

To look for something

"They searched the house for the missing keys."

Seek

To try to find or achieve something

"He sought advice from his mentor."

Seize

To take hold of suddenly and forcibly

"The police seized the stolen goods."

Select

To choose from a group

"She selected the best apples from the basket."

Sell

To exchange something for money

"He sold his car to buy a new one."

Sense

To feel or perceive something

"She sensed tension in the room."

Serve

To provide or assist

"He served the guests at the dinner party."

Shake

To move or cause to move back and forth

"He shook the bottle before opening it."

Share

To give part of something to others

"She shared her lunch with a colleague."

Sharpen

To make something sharper

"He sharpened his pencil before the test."

Shatter

To break into many pieces

"The vase shattered when it hit the floor."

Shave

To remove hair by cutting close to the skin

"He shaved his beard before the interview."

Shift

To move or change position

"She shifted her chair closer to the table."

Shiver

To shake slightly from cold or fear

"He shivered in the icy wind."

Shout

To yell loudly

"She shouted for help when she got lost."

Shove

To push roughly

"He shoved the heavy box into the corner."

Show

To display or allow others to see

"She showed her ID to the security guard."

Shred

To tear into thin pieces

"He shredded the old documents for security reasons."

Shrink

To become smaller

"The sweater shrank in the wash."

Shrug

To raise and lower the shoulders

"He shrugged when asked about the missing file."

Shudder

To tremble from fear or disgust

"She shuddered at the thought of the accident."

Shuffle

To move in a dragging, clumsy way

"He shuffled his feet nervously during the interview."

Sing

To produce musical sounds with the voice

"She sang beautifully at the concert."

Skate

To glide on skates

"They skated across the frozen pond."

Slam

To shut or strike with force

"He slammed the door in frustration."

Squint

To look with partially closed eyes

"She squinted at the tiny text in the book."

Daily Activities

  • Search: To look for something.
    Example: "He searched his bag for his wallet."
    Synonyms: Seek, Look for.

  • Save: To rescue or protect from harm.
    Example: "She saved her work before shutting down the computer."
    Synonyms: Preserve, Rescue.

  • Scrub: To clean vigorously.
    Example: "He scrubbed the kitchen counter after cooking."
    Synonyms: Wash, Scour.

Movement and Physical Actions

  • Saunter: To walk in a relaxed manner.
    Example: "They sauntered through the park on a sunny afternoon."
    Synonyms: Stroll, Amble.

  • Scramble: To move quickly or climb awkwardly.
    Example: "She scrambled up the hill to catch the view."
    Synonyms: Clamber, Scurry.

  • Shove: To push roughly.
    Example: "He shoved the table aside to make space."
    Synonyms: Push, Thrust.

Emotional and Expressive Contexts

  • Scold: To criticize someone angrily.
    Example: "She scolded her child for spilling milk."
    Synonyms: Reprimand, Admonish.

  • Shiver: To tremble from cold or emotion.
    Example: "He shivered as the wind blew through the open window."
    Synonyms: Tremble, Shake.

  • Scream: To make a loud, high-pitched noise.
    Example: "She screamed when she saw the snake."
    Synonyms: Yell, Shriek.

Illustration of Verbs That Start With S

Everyday Use of Verbs Starting With S

  1. Show

    • Example: "She showed her artwork to the gallery owner."

    • Commonly used in both literal and metaphorical contexts.

  2. Sell

    • Example: "He sold his old phone online."

    • Frequently used in transactions and commerce.

  3. Shake

    • Example: "He shook the snow off his coat."

    • A versatile verb for physical actions.

Common Mistakes

  1. Confusing “Search” and “Seek”

    • Mistake: "She seeks her phone under the couch."

    • Correction: "She searched for her phone under the couch."

    • Tip: Use "seek" for formal or abstract goals, and "search" for physical actions.

  2. Using “Save” Without Specificity

    • Mistake: "He saved the file."

    • Correction: "He saved the file to his desktop."

    • Tip: Clarify where or how something is saved.

  3. Misusing “Saunter” for Fast Movements

    • Mistake: "He sauntered to catch the bus."

    • Correction: "He ran to catch the bus."

    • Tip: "Saunter" implies a slow, relaxed pace.

FAQ

What’s the difference between “Scramble” and “Scurry”?

"Scramble" involves climbing or moving with effort, while "scurry" refers to quick, small movements.

Can “Savor” and “Save” be used interchangeably?

No. "Savor" means to enjoy, while "save" means to protect or keep something.

What are synonyms for “Search”?

Seek, Look for, Explore.

How is “Scold” different from “Reprimand”?

"Scold" is more informal and emotional, while "reprimand" is formal and official.

Can “Shatter” be used metaphorically?

Yes, e.g., "The news shattered her confidence."

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