130 Verbs That Start with G [with Definitions and Examples]

To make one’s conversations and writings unique and appealing, one should have a vast encyclopedia of verbs at one’s command, especially verbs that start with G. If you get hold of as many verbs starting with G as possible, you can build for yourself an impressive rapport among other speakers and writers.

An interesting fact about letter G is that it is the seventh letter of the ISO basic Latin alphabets and it was introduced in the Old Latin period as a variant of ‘C’ to distinguish voiced /ɡ/ from voiceless /k/.

It is a common phenomenon that we often channel our thoughts into words and when those words come out of our mouth, a public self-image is created for us in the minds of the addressees. To distinguish our image from rest of the images, we need to come up with a unique set of words. Same is the case with our use of verbs. More verbs we will have up our sleeve, better the chance of creating a resounding public self-image for ourselves. For starters, we can place the verbs beginning with G in that starter pack.

Now let’s jump into the vast encyclopedia of verbs which is not just limited to verbs that start with G to describe a person, place, or animate and inanimate object. Learning verbs that start with G will not just help us in building our vocabulary but will also make us stand apart from the rest.

Verbs That Start with G You Always Use

Let’s start with some of the verbs starting with G that you use on a day-to-day basis both while speaking and writing. These are some of the verbs that start with G that you use regularly.

1. Go   

• Definition: to travel or to move to another place
• Synonyms: travel, leave, depart, flee
• Example: Does this train go to Newcastle?

2. Get

• Definition: to obtain, buy, or earn something
• Synonyms: earn, obtain, receive
• Example: He went to the shop to get some milk.

3. Guess

• Definition: estimate or conclude something without sufficient information to be sure of being correct
• Synonyms: presume, predict, suppose
• Example: She asked me to guess her age.

4. Gift

• Definition: to present someone with a gift
• Synonyms: bestow, donate, award
• Example: Anna’s grandmother gifted her £10,000.

5. Group

• Definition: put into categories; classify
• Synonyms: arrange, assemble, associate
• Example: I grouped the children according to age.

6. Gain           

• Definition: to get something that is useful, that gives you an advantage
• Synonyms: achieve, acquire, get, obtain
• Example: The mayor has gained a lot of support from the teacher’s union.

7. Grow

• Definition: to increase in size or amount, or to become more advanced or developed
• Synonyms: develop, flourish, thrive, mature
• Example: Children grow so quickly.

8. Generate

• Definition: to bring into existence; produce
• Synonyms: produce, form, make, bring about
• Example: A good diplomat generates good will.

9. Grab

• Definition: to seize suddenly or quickly
• Synonyms: take, capture, grasp
• Example: He grabbed me by the collar.

10. Gather

• Definition: to bring together into one group, collection, or place
• Synonyms: choose, pick up, accumulate
• Example: The College is gathering a faculty from all over the country.

Verbs That Start with G You Usually Use

Verbs are at the heart of sentences and clauses; they are indispensable to the formation of a complete thought. Following is a list of verbs starting with G that you usually use in our daily life.

1. Grill 

• Definition: to cook food over fire or hot coals
• Synonyms: barbecue, roast, sear
• Example: Dad was grilling chicken in the back yard.

2. Guarantee

• Definition: to promise that something will happen or exist
• Synonyms: assure, affirm, certify, confirm
• Example: European Airlines guarantees its customers top-quality service.

3. Grade

• Definition: to give a score to a student’s piece of work
• Synonyms: value, rate, mark
• Example: I graded forty tests last night.

4. Glance

• Definition: to look quickly or briefly
• Synonyms: peak, gaze, browse, peep
• Example: He glanced up from his book as I passed.

5. Grieve

• Definition: to feel or express great sadness
• Synonyms: lament, cry, bemoan, weep
• Example: He is still grieving over his wife.

6. Gamble      

• Definition: to play at any game of chance for money or other stakes
• Synonyms: bet, wager, challenge, dare
• Example: I like to gamble when I play cards.

7. Generalize

• Definition: to make a statement that relates to many people, things, or conditions especially when based on limited facts
• Synonyms: establish, derive, induce, postulate
• Example: You can’t generalize about a continent as varied as Africa.

8. Grind

• Definition: to reduce to fine particles, as by pounding or crushing
• Synonyms: compress, crush, crunch
• Example: Shall I grind a little black pepper over your salad?

9. Grin

• Definition: to smile broadly, especially as an indication of pleasure
• Synonyms: smirk, beam, smile
• Example: He grinned at me from the doorway.

10. Gaze

• Definition: to look steadily and intently, as with great curiosity
• Synonyms: peek, ogle, gawk, watch
• Example: Annette gazed admiringly at Warren as he spoke.

Verbs That Start with G You Often Use

Verbs are very important for language development. They also enhance people’s overall expressive language. Below is a list of verbs starting with G that we use more often compared to others to express our thoughts.

1. Google

• Definition: to search the internet for information about a person, or topic
• Synonyms: look up, search, explore
• Example: We googled the new applicant to check her background.

2. Gasp

• Definition: a sudden, short intake of breath, as in shock or surprise
• Synonyms: choke, snort, retch
• Example: “Help me!” he gasped.

3. Gear

• Definition: to make something ready or suitable for a particular purpose
• Synonyms: adapt, adjust, suit, blend
• Example: Our program is geared to the needs of children.

4. Grip

• Definition: to grasp or seize firmly
• Synonyms: clutch, clasp, clench
• Example: The baby gripped my finger with her tiny hand.

5. Glue           

• Definition: to join things together using glue
• Synonyms: cement, paste, stick
• Example: Is it worth trying to glue this plate back together?

6. Grace

• Definition: to lend or add grace to
• Synonyms: dignify, distinguish, elevate
• Example: Many fine paintings graced the rooms of the house.

7. Groom

• Definition: to clean yourself or an animal
• Synonyms: brush, clean, comb
• Example: Polly spends hours in the stables grooming her pony.

8. Grasp

• Definition: to quickly take something in your hands and hold it firmly
• Synonyms: clutch, grip, catch, hook
• Example: Rosie suddenly grasped my hand.

9. Gesture

• Definition: to use a gesture to express or emphasize something
• Synonyms: signal, wave, action
• Example: She gestured meaningfully with the pistol.

10. Giggle

• Definition: to laugh repeatedly in a quiet but uncontrolled way
• Synonyms: cackle, chuckle, snicker, titter
• Example: Stop that giggling in the back row!

Verbs That Start with G You Sometimes Use

In both verbal and written communications, some verbs are used more than the others. Following is a list of verbs starting with G that we don’t use with that much regularity in our daily lives.

1. Grunt    

• Definition: to make a low, rough noise
• Synonyms: groan, cry, squawk, squeak
• Example: The pigs were grunting contentedly as they ate their food.

2. Gulp

• Definition: to swallow eagerly, or in large drafts or morsels
• Synonyms: consume, swallow, englut
• Example: She gulped down her drink and made a hasty exit.

3. Gut

• Definition: to destroy the interior of
• Synonyms: decimate, ransack, ravage
• Example: Fire gutted the building.

4. Govern

• Definition: to control and direct the public business of a country, city, or group of people
• Synonyms: administer, control, supervise, dictate
• Example: The country has been governed by military regimes.

5. Gobble

• Definition: to eat food too fast
• Synonyms: devour, gulp, swallow
• Example: She gobbled her dinner down.

6. Gag            

• Definition: to restrain by force or authority from freedom of speech
• Synonyms: constrain, suppress, curb, repress
• Example: The media has obviously been gagged because nothing has been reported.

7. Gush

• Definition: to flow or send out quickly and in large amounts
• Synonyms: cascade, spew, spout, burst
• Example: Blood was gushing from his nose.

8. Glide

• Definition: to move easily without any effort
• Synonyms: sail, skate, soar
• Example: She came gliding gracefully into the ballroom in a long, flowing gown.

9. Glamorize

• Definition: to make something seem better than it is and therefore more attractive
• Synonyms: beautify, adorn, idealize, prettify
• Example: The ad glamorized life in the army.

10. Gossip

• Definition: to talk about other people’s private lives
• Synonyms: blab, babble, tattle, chat
• Example: People have started to gossip about us.

Verbs That Start with G You Occasionally Use

There are certain verbs that we only use in a specific situation to a specific person. These are some of the verbs beginning with G that are occasionally used in our writing and communication.

1. Gabble

• Definition: to speak quickly and not clearly so that it is difficult to understand
• Synonyms: jibber, blab, babble
• Example: Gina, as usual, was gabbling away on the phone.

2. Gallop

• Definition: to run rapidly by leaps
• Synonyms: dart, dash, canter, hasten
• Example: We galloped through the woods.

3. Gargle

• Definition: to wash or rinse the throat or mouth with a liquid
• Synonyms: irrigate, swish, mouthwash
• Example: The salt does one’s throat good when one gargles.

4. Gloat

• Definition: dwell on one’s own success or another’s misfortune with smugness or malignant pleasure
• Synonyms: rejoice, exult, celebrate, whoop
• Example: She’s continually gloating over her new job.

5. Gnaw

• Definition: to bite or chew something repeatedly
• Synonyms: chomp, eat, consume
• Example: Babies like to gnaw hard objects when they’re teething.

6. Grapple      

• Definition: to hold someone while fighting with him or her
• Synonyms: attack, claw, wrestle
• Example: He briefly grappled with the police officer.

7. Grimace

• Definition: to make an expression of pain or strong dislike
• Synonyms: contort, distort, frown, scowl
• Example: He tried to stand and grimaced with pain.

8. Garner

• Definition: to collect something, usually after much work or with difficulty
• Synonyms: amass, pick up, gather, accumulate
• Example: Coppola garnered several Oscar awards for “The Godfather”.

9. Globalize

• Definition: to make something become generally accepted all over the world
• Synonyms: popularize, internationalize
• Example: Markets are being increasingly globalized.

10. Grease

• Definition: to put grease or oil on something
• Synonyms: anoint, oil, butter
• Example: Grease the tins well before adding the cake mixture.

Verbs That Start with G You Seldom Use

There are a lot of verbs that we don’t come across too often. Following is a list of verbs starting with G that are very seldom used in sentences and clauses that we utter and write.

1. Garble   

• Definition: to make words or messages unclear and difficult to understand
• Synonyms: confuse, misquote, misinterpret
• Example: It’s bad when phones garble conversations.

2. Galvanize

• Definition: to cause someone to suddenly take action
• Synonyms: arouse, astonish, excite, motivate
• Example: Western charities were galvanized by TV pictures of starving people.

3. Gesticulate

• Definition: to make or use gestures, especially in an animated or excited manner
• Synonyms: gesture, motion, signal
• Example: There was a man outside the window gesticulating wildly.

4. Gape

• Definition: to look in great surprise at someone or something
• Synonyms: glare, gloat, stare
• Example: They stood gaping at the pig in the kitchen.

5. Gawk

• Definition: to look at something or someone in a stupid or rude way
• Synonyms: glare, ogle, goggle
• Example: Don’t sit there gawking like that – give me a hand!

6. Gibe           

• Definition: to utter mocking or scoffing words
• Synonyms: mock, ridicule, taunt, scoff
• Example: Michael began to gibe at his cowardice.

7. Glean

• Definition: to collect information in small amounts and often with difficulty
• Synonyms: deduce, extract, garner
• Example: From what I was able to glean, the news isn’t good.

8. Glisten

• Definition: to shine by reflecting light from a wet or smooth surface
• Synonyms: flicker, gleam, sparkle
• Example: His eyes glistened with tears.

9. Grovel

• Definition: to abase or demean oneself
• Synonyms: beseech, fawn, cringe
• Example: I’ll apologize, but I won’t grovel just because I made a mistake.

10. Gouge

• Definition: to dig or cut into something in a rough or violent way
• Synonyms: burrow, dig, claw, cut
• Example: A symbol was gouged into the surface of the wood.

Verbs That Start with G You Rarely Use

There are some verbs that are very rare and are used to a minimal extent in our daily lives. By going through the list given below, confirm it for yourself how many of these verbs starting with G have you heard of?

1. Gainsay 

• Definition: to refuse to accept something as the truth
• Synonyms: combat, contravene, disprove
• Example: Certainly there’s no gainsaying the technical brilliance of his performance.

2. Gambol

• Definition: to run and jump in a happy way
• Synonyms: frolic, frisk, hop, jump
• Example: Lambs were gamboling around in the spring sunshine.

3. Garrote

• Definition: to kill someone by putting a metal wire or collar around their neck and pulling it
• Synonyms: assassinate, execute, kill
• Example: He had been garroted with piano wire.

4. Gerrymander

• Definition: manipulate the boundaries of (an electoral constituency) so as to favor one party or class
• Synonyms: falsify, rig, manipulate, doctor
• Example: The government dropped plans to gerrymander rural constituencies.

5. Gestate

• Definition: to think of and develop an idea slowly in the mind
• Synonyms: conceive, conceptualize, believe
• Example: The subconscious mind needs time to gestate the work.

6. Grubstake         

• Definition: to give money to someone to start a new business in return for part of its profits
• Synonyms: back, bank, fund
• Example: If he grubstaked her she would be willing to go fifty-fifty on the book.

7. Grouse

• Definition: to complain angrily
• Synonyms: grumble, complain, protest
• Example: She’s always grousing about how she’s been treated by the management.

8. Genuflect

• Definition: to bend the knee or touch one knee to the floor in reverence or worship
• Synonyms: bow, stoop, kneel
• Example: People were genuflecting in front of the altar.

9. Gyrate

• Definition: to move in a circle or spiral, or around a fixed point
• Synonyms: rotate, revolve, circle
• Example: A line of male dancers gyrated to the music.

10. Guillotine

• Definition: to cut someone’s head off using a guillotine
• Synonyms: decapitate, behead, execute
• Example: During the French Revolution, thousands of people were guillotined.

Positive Verbs That Start with G

There are some positive verbs that both carry and spread positivity and also describe your skills, results, and accomplishments. These are some of the positive verbs that start with G that you should have at your disposal.

1. Garden  

• Definition: to take care of a garden, as planting seeds and watering the plants
• Synonyms: farm, plant, cultivate
• Example: You’ve probably never gardened in your life.

2. Gad

• Definition: to go from place to place in the pursuit of pleasure
• Synonyms: gallivant, roam, rove, wander
• Example: Don’t think you’ll keep me here while you gad about.

3. Grant

• Definition: to give or allow someone something,
• Synonyms: contribute, donate, gift
• Example: He was granted asylum.

4. Give

• Definition: to present voluntarily and without expecting compensation
• Synonyms: award, donate, provide
• Example: We always try to give to charity.

5. Glorify

• Definition: to honor with praise, admiration, or worship
• Synonyms: commend, honor, acclaim, dignify
• Example: A statue was erected to glorify the country’s national heroes.

6. Glow          

• Definition: to look attractive because you are happy or healthy
• Synonyms: brighten, illuminate, glitter
• Example: The children’s faces were glowing with excitement.

7. Graduate

• Definition: to complete a first university degree successfully
• Synonyms: finish, certify, be commissioned
• Example: After he graduated from high school, he joined the Army.

8. Greet

• Definition: to address with some form of salutation
• Synonyms: welcome, receive, salute, address
• Example: The teacher greeted each child with a friendly “Hello!”

9. Guide

• Definition: to show someone how to do something
• Synonyms: advise, instruct, steer
• Example: He guided us around the city.

10. Guard

• Definition: to keep safe from harm or danger
• Synonyms: protect, defend, safeguard
• Example: A brother guards his sister from all dangers.

Verbs That Start with G – Full List (130 words)

• Gab
• Gad
• Gag
• Gain
• Gallivant
• Gallop
• Galvanize
• Gamble
• Game
• Gang
• Gangrene
• Gape
• Garb
• Garble
• Garden
• Gargle
• Garland
• Garner
• Garnish
• Garrote
• Gash
• Gasp
• Gather
• Gauge
• Gawk
• Gear
• Geld
• Generalize
• Generate
• Gentle
• Germinate
• Gesticulate
• Gesture
• Get
• Ghost
• Gift
• Giggle
• Gild
• Gin
• Ginger
• Gird
• Give
• Glad
• Gladden
• Glad-hand
• Glamorize
• Glamour
• Glance
• Glare
• Glaze
• Gleam
• Glean
• Glide
• Glimmer
• Glimpse
• Glisten
• Glister
• Glitter
• Gloat
• Globalize
• Glorify
• Glory
• Gloss
• Glove
• Glow
• Glue
• Gnash
• Gnaw
• Go
• Goad
• Gobble
• Google
• Gossip
• Gouge
• Govern
• Grab
• Grace
• Grade
• Graduate
• Graft
• Grain
• Grant
• Granulate
• Grapple
• Grasp
• Grass
• Grate
• Gratify
• Gravel
• Gravitate
• Graze
• Grease
• Greet
• Grieve
• Grill
• Grimace
• Grin
• Grind
• Grip
• Grit
• Groan
• Grok
• Groom
• Groove
• Grope
• Ground
• Group
• Grouse
• Grovel
• Grow
• Grub
• Grubstake
• Grumble
• Grunt
• Guarantee
• Guard
• Guerdon
• Guess
• Guest
• Guffaw
• Guide
• Guillotine
• Gulp
• Gun
• Gurgle
• Gush
• Gussy
• Gut
• Guzzle
• Gyrate

Final Thoughts on Verbs That Start with G

It is hoped that you would have learnt something new about the use of verbs while reading this article. There is a never-ending list of verbs and new verbs are being added to it every now and then. By having a large reservoir of verbs at your disposal, you can bring terseness and compactness in your speech and writing which will indirectly build an impressive public self-image for you in the eyes of your audience. There are a number of verbs that start with G that can help you achieve that output. By inserting such verbs beginning with G in the phrases, clauses and sentences you utter will bring you great success.

Ps. See also positive words that start with G, adjectives that start with G and nouns that start with G.