Verbs That Start With W | List, Exercise & Examples

List of Top 50 Verbs That Start With W

Verb	Definition	Example
Wade	To walk through water or a similar substance.	He had to wade through the muddy field.
Wait	To remain until something happens.	She decided to wait for the bus inside.
Waive	To relinquish a right or claim.	He waived his right to a jury trial.
Wake	To stop sleeping.	She needs to wake up early tomorrow.
Walk	To move on foot.	They like to walk in the park after dinner.
Wander	To move aimlessly without a fixed path.	The tourists wandered around the city.
Want	To desire something.	She wants to learn a new language.
Warm	To make or become warm.	He warmed his hands by the fire.
Warn	To alert someone to danger or caution.	The signs warned of slippery floors.
Warp	To bend or twist out of shape.	The heat warped the wooden frame.
Warrant	To justify or necessitate something.	The situation warrants further investigation.
Wash	To clean with water or other liquid.	He washed his car on Saturday.
Waste	To use carelessly or without purpose.	Don’t waste water while brushing your teeth.
Watch	To observe attentively.	They watched the sunset from the balcony.
Weaken	To make or become less strong.	The illness weakened his immune system.
Wear	To have clothing on the body.	She decided to wear a blue dress to the party.
Weave	To interlace threads or materials.	They weave baskets by hand.
Wed	To marry someone.	The couple plans to wed next spring.
Weep	To cry or shed tears.	She wept tears of joy at the good news.
Weigh	To measure the weight of something.	He weighed the bag on the scale.
Welcome	To greet someone in a friendly manner.	They welcomed the new students warmly.
Weld	To join metals by heating and melting them.	He welded the broken part of the gate.
Whack	To hit something hard.	He whacked the piñata with a stick.
Whine	To complain in a high-pitched tone.	The child started to whine about bedtime.
Whip	To beat or strike quickly.	She whipped the cream for the cake.
Whisk	To mix quickly with a whisk.	He whisked the eggs for the omelette.
Whisper	To speak softly.	She whispered a secret to her friend.
Widen	To make or become wider.	They decided to widen the road for traffic.
Wiggle	To move with small, quick motions.	The puppy wiggled its tail excitedly.
Will	To express determination or intent.	She willed herself to finish the race.
Wilt	To droop or lose vitality.	The flowers began to wilt in the heat.
Win	To achieve victory.	Their team won the championship.
Wink	To close and open one eye quickly.	He winked playfully at his friend.
Wipe	To clean or dry by rubbing.	She wiped the table with a cloth.
Wish	To hope for something.	He wishes for a better future.
Withdraw	To remove or take back.	She withdrew money from the ATM.
Wither	To shrivel or fade.	The plants withered from lack of water.
Withhold	To keep back or refuse to give.	He withheld his approval for the project.
Withstand	To endure or resist.	The building withstood the strong winds.
Witness	To see or observe an event.	He witnessed the accident on his way to work.
Wobble	To move unsteadily.	The chair wobbled on the uneven floor.
Wonder	To feel curiosity or amazement.	She wondered about life on other planets.
Woo	To seek affection or approval.	He tried to woo her with flowers and gifts.
Work	To engage in physical or mental activity.	She worked hard on the project all day.
Worry	To feel anxious or troubled.	He worried about the upcoming exam.
Wrap	To cover or enclose something.	She wrapped the gift in colorful paper.
Wreak	To cause or inflict.	The storm wreaked havoc across the region.
Wrestle	To grapple or struggle physically.	They wrestled for control of the remote.
Wring	To twist something to remove liquid.	She wrung the water out of the wet cloth.
Write	To mark words on paper or type electronically.	She writes in her journal every evening.

Featured Verbs Grouped by Topics

Daily Actions

Wash: To clean using water.
Example: "He washed his hands before dinner."
Weigh: To measure weight.
Example: "The chef weighed the ingredients carefully."
Work: To perform a task or job.
Example: "She worked diligently on her presentation."

Emotional or Abstract Concepts

Wonder: To feel curiosity.
Example: "He wondered about the mysteries of the universe."
Worry: To feel anxious.
Example: "She worried about her friend’s safety."

Physical Movements

Wade: To walk through water or mud.
Example: "They waded across the shallow stream."
Wrestle: To grapple or struggle.
Example: "He wrestled with the problem all night."

Creative or Productive Actions

Write: To put words on paper.
Example: "She writes poetry every weekend."
Weave: To interlace materials or ideas.
Example: "The storyteller wove an intricate tale."

Everyday Use of Verbs Starting With W

Wait: "She waited patiently for her turn."
Watch: "They watched the fireworks display from the rooftop."
Wish: "He wished for a sunny day for their picnic."
Warm: "She warmed her hands by the fire."
Wrap: "He wrapped the package carefully."

Common Mistakes

1. Misusing “Weigh” Instead of “Measure”

Mistake: "He weighed the distance to the finish line."
Correction: "He measured the distance to the finish line."

2. Confusing “Warp” with “Wrap”

Mistake: "She warped the present."
Correction: "She wrapped the present."

3. Using “Worry” Instead of “Wonder”

Mistake: "He worried about the outcome of the story."
Correction: "He wondered about the outcome of the story."

4. Overusing “Will” for Future Actions

Mistake: "I will finish this soon."
Correction: "I plan to finish this soon."

5. Confusing “Withdraw” with “Withhold”

Mistake: "He withdrew the prize from the winner."
Correction: "He withheld the prize from the winner."

FAQ

What’s the difference between “Wade” and “Walk”?

“Wade” refers to walking through water or mud, while “walk” is a general term for moving on foot.
Example: "They waded through the marsh" vs. "They walked to the park."

Can “Weave” be used metaphorically?

Yes, it can mean combining ideas or elements.
Example: "She wove her experiences into a compelling narrative."

Is “Warp” always negative?

Not necessarily. While it often refers to damage, it can also imply creative bending, as in storytelling.

How is “Withdraw” different from “Withhold”?

“Withdraw” means to take something away after it’s been given, while “withhold” means to keep something back from being given.

Can “Wonder” be used as a noun?

Yes, it can also mean something amazing or extraordinary.
Example: "The pyramids are a wonder of the ancient world."