170 Verbs That Start with F [with Definitions and Examples]

In this article, we are going to talk about verbs that start with F. As you may know, we will come across hundreds of verbs in our daily life that start with F, like “Find”, “Feel”, “Finish”, etc. Verbs beginning with F have peculiar properties that you might be unaware of. Learning these properties will help you a lot in both written and oral English.

An interesting fact about letter F is that in today’s school system the lowest grade you can get is an F. Do you know why it is F and not other letters? Because “F” stands for “failure” or “failed”. Share this with your friends and they’ll be surprised at your English knowledge.

In this article, we are also going to monitor which verbs from the list of verbs that start with F people use the most in their daily lives and which ones are not used too often. Apart from that, you will also be able to find verbs that start with F to describe a person as well. So, in order to know in detail about verbs that start with F, continue reading this article.

Table of Contents

Verbs That Start with F You Always Use

There are a lot of verbs starting with F that we use on a regular basis in our writings and in our day-to-day oral communications. The verbs that start with F that you use regularly are listed below.

Find

Definition: to encounter; to discover
Synonyms: get, acquire, obtain

Example: You’ll find the knives and forks in the left-hand drawer.

Function

Definition: to act or operate as; to serve
Synonyms: operate, serve, act

Example: I’m so tired today, I can barely function.

Face

Definition: to confront and deal with a difficult or unpleasant task
Synonyms: challenge, confront, encounter, endure

Example: This is one of the many problems faced by working mothers.

Fail

Definition: be unsuccessful in achieving one’s goal
Synonyms: fold, stall, break,crash
Example: He failed in his attempt to secure the election.

Feed

Definition: to give food to a person, group, or animal
Synonyms: provide, nourish, supply
Example: Let’s feed the kids first and have our dinner after.

Feel

Definition: to experience something physical or emotional
Synonyms: perceive, sense, endure, notice
Example: Never in her life had she felt so happy.

Fetch

Definition: to go to another place to get something or someone

Synonyms: carry, obtain, retrieve, bring
Example: I have to fetch my mother from the station.

Fight

Definition: to use a lot of effort to defeat or achieve something
Synonyms: challenge,clash,resist
Example: We need the public’s help in fighting crime.

Finish

Definition: to complete something or come to the end of an activity
Synonyms: accomplish,complete,conclude
Example: I’ll call you when I’ve finished my homework.

Definition: to repair something, fasten something securely
Synonyms: install,set,settle,stabilize
Example: He couldn’t fix my old computer, so I bought a new one.

Verbs That Start with F You Usually Use

Our lives are full of actions and those actions are carried out by the use of verbs. Following is a list of verbs starting with F that we usually use in our daily life to carry out those actions.

Fear

Definition: to be frightened of something or someone unpleasant
Synonyms: scare, anxiety, concern, terror
Example: What do you fear the most?

Freeze

Definition: to change from a fluid to a solid form by loss of heat
Synonyms: chill, refrigerate, benumb
Example: Water freezes to ice at a temperature of 0°C.

Definition: to cook food in hot oil or fat
Synonyms: roast, sear, frizzle
Example: It is healthier to grill or steam your food than to fry it.

Figure

Definition: to expect or think that something will happen
Synonyms: determine, discover, solve

Example: I figure that you’ll want to eat before we go out.

File

Definition: to officially record something, especially in a law court
Synonyms: level, register, accuse
Example: The police filed charges against the two suspects.

Definition: to be the right size or shape for someone or something
Synonyms: fix, adjust, suit
Example: I don’t think another desk will fit into this classroom.

Flow

Definition: to move along in a stream, to circulate
Synonyms: continue, proceed, circulate, rush
Example: Many short rivers flow into the Pacific Ocean.

Definition: to move through the air using wings
Synonyms: soar, glide, float, flutter
Example: As soon as it saw us, the bird flew away.

Focus

Definition: to give your full attention to what you are doing
Synonyms: fixate, concentrate, direct

Example: I’m finding it hard to focus today.

Force

Definition: to compel someone to do something
Synonyms: compel, charge, order, press
Example: You can’t force her to make a decision.

Verbs That Start with F You Often Use

Verbs create drama and movement in a sentence and in our lives by showing what the subject is doing. The verbs beginning with F that often tell us about the actions of the subject are listed below.

Feature

Definition: to include someone or something as an important part
Synonyms: advertise, headline, promote
Example: His latest movie featured an all-star cast.

Faint

Definition: to suddenly become unconscious for a short time
Synonyms: collapse, pass out, drop, fade
Example: I nearly fainted in the heat.

Fall

Definition: to suddenly go down onto the ground by accident
Synonyms: collapse, crash, land, plummet
Example: He fell badly and broke his leg.

Forbid

Definition: to command a person not to do something

Synonyms: ban, block, sensor, cancel
Example: He is forbidden from leaving the country.

Fold

Definition: to bring into a compact form by bending parts together
Synonyms: bend, curl, wrap up
Example: I folded the letter in half and put it in an envelope.

Fool

Definition: to deceive or delude someone
Synonyms: cheat, delude, deceive
Example: They tried to fool him.

Forget

Definition: to be unable to remember something
Synonyms: blow, skip, neglect
Example: I’m sorry, I’ve forgotten your name.

Form

Definition: to devise or construct, to place in order
Synonyms: shape, configure, devise, establish
Example: Together they would form the next government.

Formulate

Definition: to develop all the details of a plan for doing something

Synonyms: prepare, plan, develop, construct
Example: We had to formulate a new strategy.

Foul

Definition: to spoil or damage something by making it dirty
Synonyms: pollute, infect
Example: The oil spill fouled the river and destroyed habitats.

Verbs That Start with F You Sometimes Use

In verbal and written communication, we use some verbs more than the others. Following is a list of verbs beginning with F that are not used on a regular basis in our daily life routine.

Forfeit

Definition: to lose the right to do or have something because you have broken a rule
Synonyms: abandon, relinquish, surrender

Example: These people have forfeited the right to live in society.

Foster

Definition: to take care of a child, usually for a limited time, without being the child’s legal parent
Synonyms: assist, cherish, harbor, help
Example: Would you consider fostering a child?

Formalize

Definition: to make something official or decide to arrange it according to a fixed structure
Synonyms: characterize, specify, describe
Example: They offered me the job, but the contract hasn’t been formalized yet.

Forge

Definition: to make an illegal copy of something in order to deceive
Synonyms: falsify, produce, duplicate, fabricate
Example: He has forged a fraudulent document.

Forsake

Definition: to leave someone forever, especially when they need you

Synonyms: disown, forgo, spurn, repudiate
Example: She has forsaken her country for an island in the Pacific.

Fade

Definition: to lose freshness, vigor, strength, or health
Synonyms: deteriorate, diminish, disappear

Example: The tulips have faded.

Familiarize

Definition: to make oneself well-acquainted with something

Synonyms: enlighten, adapt, adjust
Example: Teachers needed to familiarize themselves with the new software.

Frame

Definition: to make a person seem to be guilty of a crime when they are not, by producing facts or information that are not true
Synonyms: accuse, blame, allege
Example: He claimed he’d been framed by the police.

Filter

Definition: to appear to a limited degree
Synonyms: appear, creep, bubble up
Example: News filtered down to us during the day.

Fracture

Definition: the act of breaking or of being broken
Synonyms: crack, breach, fissure
Example: She fractured her skull in the accident.

Verbs That Start with F You Occasionally Use

There are some verbs that are much complicated or just less common than the rest. Following is a list of verbs that start with F and are used occasionally in our writing and communication.

Fabricate

Definition: to invent or produce something false in order to deceive someone
Synonyms: make, misrepresent, invent
Example: He claims that the police fabricated evidence against him.

Falter

Definition: to lose strength or purpose and stop
Synonyms: hesitate, waver, wobble
Example: Her friends never faltered in their belief in her.

Fathom

Definition: to understand someone or why someone acts as they do
Synonyms: unravel, comprehend, grasp
Example: I can’t fathom her at all.

Feign

Definition: to pretend to have a particular feeling or problem
Synonyms: imitate, bluff, act
Example: The defendant had feigned the injury.

Finesse

Definition: to deal with a situation or a person in a skillful and often slightly dishonest way
Synonyms: exploit, bluff, play, rig
Example: She finessed the interview by playing down her lack of experience.

Flaunt

Definition: to show off or make obvious something you are proud of in order to get admiration
Synonyms: advertise, display, show off
Example: He’s got a lot of money but he doesn’t flaunt it.

Flick

Definition: to strike lightly with a whip
Synonyms: tap, dab, hit
Example: Babar flicked the ball for a six over square-leg.

Flinch

Definition: to draw back or shrink, as from what is dangerous, difficult, or unpleasant
Synonyms: avoid, cower, evade
Example: He didn’t even flinch when the nurse cleaned the wound.

Fluctuate

Definition: to change, especially continuously and between one level or thing and another
Synonyms: oscillate, vary, flutter, waver
Example: Vegetable prices fluctuate according to the season.

Flourish

Definition: to grow or develop successfully
Synonyms: bloom, blossom, develop
Example: My tomatoes are flourishing this summer.

Verbs That Start with F You Seldom Use

When you are reading something you come across a lot of verbs that start with F but there are some verbs starting with F that are seldom used. Below is a list of those verbs.

Federate

Definition: to join together to form a federation
Synonyms: align, unite, organize
Example: Local fishing cooperatives have federated to form a national organization.

Fondle

Definition: to touch gently and in a loving way, or to touch in a sexual way
Synonyms: caress, grope, embrace
Example: She fondled the puppies.

Faze

Definition: to confuse and annoy someone
Synonyms: annoy, appall, bother, confuse
Example: Speaking in public does not faze her.

Filch

Definition: to steal something of little value
Synonyms: embezzle, lift, pinch
Example: Who’s filched my pencils?

Flounder

Definition: to struggle with stumbling or plunging movements
Synonyms: stumble, grope, wallow
Example: He saw the child floundering about in the water.

Forgo

Definition: to give up or do without
Synonyms: abandon, forsake, quit
Example: I shall have to forgo the pleasure of seeing you this week.

Fester

Definition: to cause increasing poisoning, irritation, or bitterness
Synonyms: rankle, aggravate, blister
Example: His resentment festered for years.

Fret

Definition: to feel or express worry, annoyance or discontent
Synonyms: agonize, bother, fume
Example: You mustn’t fret yourself about that.

Flitch

Definition: to cut so as to form flitches
Synonyms: carve, divide, slash, rip
Example: He shouldn’t flitch the wood into pieces.

Fetter

Definition: to keep someone within limits or stop them from making progress
Synonyms: bind, chain, confine
Example: The black mud fettered her movements.

Verbs That Start with F You Rarely Use

There are some verbs starting with F that are rarely seen or heard in both writing and talking. When a reader comes to know them he is flabbergasted to know that such a verb even exists. Below are some of those verbs that start with F.

Flabbergast

Definition: to shock someone, usually by telling that person something they were not expecting
Synonyms: amaze,astonish,astound
Example: Friends were flabbergasted by the news that they’d split up.

Fleece

Definition: to take someone’s money dishonestly, by charging too much money
Synonyms: cheat,defraud,overcharge
Example: That restaurant really fleeced us!

Forage

Definition: search for food or supplies. Also to strip off possessions by plundering and seizing
Synonyms: explore, hunt, scour, plunder
Example: The children had been living on the streets, foraging for scraps.

Foment

Definition: to create trouble or violence or make something worse
Synonyms: arouse, incite,agitate,excite
Example: The song was banned on the grounds that it might foment racial tension.

Foreordain

Definition: to ordain or appoint beforehand. to predestine or predetermine something
Synonyms: foreshadow, foretell, predestine, predetermine
Example: Did God foreordain or choose the individuals who would compose the church?

Fraternize

Definition: to meet someone socially, especially someone who has a different social position
Synonyms: be friendly, be sociable with, hang out with
Example: The soldiers were accused of fraternizing with the enemy.

Fructify

Definition: to produce a good or useful result, to make something fertile
Synonyms: fecundate, impregnate, pollinate
Example: They believed their sacrifice would fructify the soil.

Fulminate

Definition: to criticize strongly or to explode with a loud noise
Synonyms: berate, condemn,curse,declaim
Example: Michael was fulminating against the government.

Furbish

Definition: to make something, especially a room or building, look clean and in good condition
Synonyms: brighten, clean, recondition, renew
Example: They built the hotel but did not furbish it.

Fluster

Definition: to put into a state of agitated confusion
Synonyms: agitate, bewilder, confound, confuse
Example: Don’t let that new tax form fluster you.

Positive Verbs That Start with F

Among every category of verbs, some carry positive connotation whereas some does not. Some of the verbs beginning with F that carry a positive connotation are listed below.

Fascinate

Definition: to interest someone a lot
Synonyms: attract, captivate, bewitch
Example: Science has always fascinated me.

Facilitate

Definition: to make something possible or easier
Synonyms: help, ease, smooth, aid
Example: To facilitate learning, each class is no larger than 30 students.

Forgive

Definition: to stop being angry with someone who has done something wrong
Synonyms: pardon, acquit, exonerate
Example: She apologized and he forgave her.

Fulfill

Definition: to do something that is expected, hoped for, or promised
Synonyms: realize, consummate, bring about
Example: He has failed to fulfill his duties as a father.

Forbear

Definition: to be patient or self-controlled when subject to annoyance or provocation
Synonyms: abstain, avoid, desist
Example: He carefully forbore any mention of her name.

Free

Definition: to make free; set at liberty; release from bondage, imprisonment, or restraint
Synonyms: liberate, exempt, acquit
Example: She was freed from prison through the agency of her doctor.

Favor

Definition: to support or prefer one particular possibility
Synonyms: aid, facilitate, accommodate
Example: Democrats favored a temporary increase in the state sales tax.

Fantasize

Definition: to think about something very pleasant that is unlikely to happen
Synonyms: imagine, hallucinate, daydream
Example: He fantasized about winning the Nobel Prize.

Fancy

Definition: to want to have or do something
Synonyms: crave, like, love
Example: Do you fancy a drink this evening?

Definition: to move behind someone or something and go where he goes
Synonyms: adopt, adhere to, pursue
Example: A dog followed us home.

Verbs That Start with F – Full List (170 words)

Fabricate
Face
Facilitate
Fade
Fail
Faint
Fake
Fall
Falsify
Falter
Familiarize
Fan
Farm
Fart
Fascinate
Fashion
Fast
Fasten
Fathom
Fatten
Favor
Favour
Fawn
Fear
Feast
Feather
Federate
Feed
Feel
Feign
Feint
Feminize
Fence
Fend
Ferment
Ferret
Fertilize
Festoon
Fetch
Fiddle
Fidget
Fight
Figure
Filch
File
Fill
Film
Filtch
Filter
Finance
Find
Fine
Finger
Finish
Fire
Firm
Fish
Fissure
Fit
Fix
Fizzle
Flabberghast
Flag
Flake
Flame
Flank
Flare
Flash
Flatten
Flatter
Flavour
Flay
Fleck
Flee
Fleece
Flesh
Flex
Flick
Flicker
Flinch
Fling
Flip
Flirt
Float
Flog
Flood
Floor
Flounce
Flounder
Flour
Flourish
Flout
Flow
Flower
Fluctuate
Fluidify
Flute
Flutter
Fly
Foal
Foam
Fob
Focus
Foil
Foist
Fold
Foliate
Follow
Foment
Fondle
Fool
Forbid
Force
Forebode
Forecast
Foreordain
Foresee
Foreshadow
Forestall
Forfeit
Forfend
Forge
Forget
Forgive
Fork
Form
Formalize
Formulate
Forsake
Fortify
Forward
Fossilize
Foster
Foul
Found
Fracture
Frame
Fraternize
Fray
Freak
Free
Freeze
Frenchify
Frequent
Freshen
Fret
Frighten
Frill
Fringe
Fritter
Frizz
Frolic
Front
Frost
Froth
Frown
Fructify
Frustrate
Fry
Fuel
Fulfill
Fulminate
Fumble
Fume
Fumigate
Function
Furbish
Furl
Furnish
Furrow

Final Thoughts on Verbs That Start with F

Thank you for avidly going through this article. I hope you would have got to know something new. There are a lot of questions that you may be asking yourself about the idea given in this article. For example, how many of these verbs starting with F have you known before? How many of these verbs that start with F you use in your daily life? Are there any verbs in this list that you knew but didn’t know their usage in phrases and sentences? There are many more verbs beginning with F that you can come up with that you can include in each of the above given categories which will enhance your skill level of tackling them. This article will definitely help you develop English skills and will clear certain ambiguities you had about the usage of verbs that start with F in your writings and communications.