Verbs That Start With S
Table of Contents
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." |
Featured Verbs Grouped by Topics
Daily Activities
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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.
Everyday Use of Verbs Starting With S
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Show
-
Example: "She showed her artwork to the gallery owner."
-
Commonly used in both literal and metaphorical contexts.
-
Sell
-
Example: "He sold his old phone online."
-
Frequently used in transactions and commerce.
-
Shake
-
Example: "He shook the snow off his coat."
-
A versatile verb for physical actions.
Common Mistakes
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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.
-
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.
-
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."