285 Verbs That Start with I [with Definitions and Examples]

The utilization of verbs to perform actions in our lives is endless, especially of verbs that start with I. There are hundreds of verbs starting with I that you might be completely unaware of, and this article is a great place to start if you want to read about those verbs. For your convenience, a list of verbs that start with I is given in this article.

I, or i, is the ninth letter and the third vowel letter of the modern English alphabet and the ISO basic Latin alphabet. An interesting fact about letter I is that it started as a picture sign of a hand, as in Egyptian hieroglyphic writing and in a very early Semitic writing used about 1500 BCE on the Sinai Peninsula.

In this article, we are going to analyze verbs beginning with I that people use the most in their everyday lives and the ones that are rarely used by them. Apart from that there are many verbs that start with G to describe a person, place, or animate and inanimate objects. A strong orator has a majority of words up his sleeves that help him move the masses. For you as a reader, the first place to start is to get to know about verbs because they are the agents of action. Without any further ado, let’s get straight to the verbs that start with I and will help you develop a distinctive aura and personality in your day-to-day conversations and writings.

Table of Contents

Verbs That Start with I You Always Use

There is a variety of verbs that you use in your day-to-day life, whether it is in writing or speaking. These are some of the verbs that start with I that you use regularly.

1. Imagine

Definition: to form a mental image or concept
Synonyms: visualize, envisage, picture
Example: She imagined him at his desk, her head in his hands.

2. Ignore

Definition: to disregard intentionally
Synonyms: disregard, snub, shun
Example: Why is he ignoring you?

3. Introduce

Definition: to make someone known by name to another in person
Synonyms: harbinger, familiarize, acquaint
Example: I must introduce you to my wife.

4. Inform

Definition: to give someone facts or information
Synonyms: apprise, tell, notify
Example: He wrote to her, informing her of the situation.

5. Increase

Definition: to make something become larger in amount or size
Synonyms: expand, extend, boost
Example: Incidents of armed robbery have increased over the last few years.

6. Insult

Definition: to say or do something to someone that is rude or offensive
Synonyms: offend, abuse, affront
Example: He insulted all my friends.

7. Include

Definition: to contain something as a part of something else
Synonyms: add, insert, enter

Example: The bill includes tax and service.

8. Invite

Definition: to ask or request someone to go to an event
Synonyms: ask, bid, summon
Example: We’re invited to Lola’s party.

9. Involve

Definition: to include someone in something, or to make them take part in or feel part of it
Synonyms: include, comprise, contain
Example: She’s been involved with animal rights for many years.

10. Irritate

Definition: to make someone angry or annoyed
Synonyms: annoy, vex, anger
Example: After a while her behavior really began to irritate me.

Verbs That Start with I You Usually Use

Verbs are an indispensable part of our daily lives. We can’t imagine communicating, writing, or reading without these verbs. So here are some verbs starting with I that we usually make use of.

1. Isolate

Definition: to set or place apart
Synonyms: separate, segregate, detach
Example: He was isolated from all the other prisoners.

2. Inquire

Definition: to ask for information

Synonyms: ask, probe, look
Example: Shall I inquire about the price of tickets?

3. Invent

Definition: to create a reason, excuse, or story
Synonyms: create, devise, formulate
Example: But I didn’t invent the story – everything I told you is true.

4. Interrupt

Definition: to stop a person from speaking for a short period by something you say or do
Synonyms: heckle, disturb discontinue
Example: I wish you’d stop interrupting me.

5. Interact

Definition: to communicate with or react to
Synonyms: interrelate, interchange, interconnect
Example: It’s interesting at parties to see how people interact socially.

6. Interfere

Definition: to involve yourself in a situation when your involvement is not wanted or is not helpful
Synonyms: hamper, hinder, impede
Example: It’s their problem and I’m not going to interfere.

7. Imitate

Definition: to copy someone’s speech or behavior, or to copy something as a model

Synonyms: assume, duplicate, emulate, mimic
Example: He imitated her accent perfectly.

8. Infect

Definition: to pass a disease to a person, animal, or plant
Synonyms: contaminate, taint, pollute
Example: All the tomato plants are infected with a virus.

9. Intend

Definition: to have as a plan or purpose
Synonyms: plan, aim, purpose
Example: We intend to go to Australia next year.

10. Investigate

Definition: to examine a crime, problem, statement, etc., especially to carefully discover the truth
Synonyms: probe, scrutinize, look
Example: Police are investigating allegations of corruption senior executives.

Verbs That Start with I You Often Use

Despite the fact that there are multiple verbs starting with I, there are some that we use more often compared to others. These are some of those verbs that you might often use.

1. Ice

Definition: to cover a cake with icing
Synonyms: freeze, frost
Example: I’ve made her a chocolate cake – now I just need to ice it.

2. Iron

Definition: to make clothes flat and smooth using an iron
Synonyms: press, smoothing
Example: It takes about five minutes to iron a shirt properly.

3. Interpret

Definition: to decide what the intended meaning of something is
Synonyms: explain, elucidate
Example: A jury should not interpret the silence of a defendant as a sign of guilt.

4. Irrigate

Definition: to supply land with water so that crops will grow
Synonyms: water, spray, soak

Example: He also wants to use the water to irrigate barren desert land.

5. Issue

Definition: to supply or distribute something for use or sale
Synonyms: supply, provide, equip
Example: Licenses were issued indiscriminately to any company.

6. Interview

Definition: to ask questions of someone who is interested in getting a job or other position
Synonyms: conversation, dialogue, conference
Example: We interviewed dozens of applicants, and have narrowed the job search down to two.

7. Internalize

Definition: to accept or absorb an idea, opinion, belief, etc. so that it becomes part of your character
Synonyms: embody, incarnate, attribute
Example: He had not expected the people so readily to internalize the values of democracy.

8. Identify

Definition: to recognize someone or something
Synonyms: recognize, spot, pinpoint
Example: Even the smallest baby can identify its mother by her voice.

9. Initiate

Definition: to cause something to begin
Synonyms: begin, start, commence

Example: Who initiated the violence?

10. Indicate

Definition: to show, point, or make clear in another way
Synonyms: specify, point out, show
Example: Please indicate which free gift you would like to receive.

Verbs That Start with I You Sometimes Use

Some verbs are used more often in spoken and written conversation than others. The following is a list of verbs beginning with I that are less frequently used in our everyday lives.

1. Impersonate

Definition: to assume the character or appearance of
Synonyms: imitate, mimic, parody
Example: He was arrested for impersonating a police officer.

2. Invoke

Definition: to call for with earnest desire
Synonyms: beg, beseech, request
Example: Their sacred dance is performed to invoke ancient gods.

3. Invade

Definition: to intrude upon
Synonyms: storm, attack, overwhelm
Example: Famous people often find their privacy is invaded by the press.

4. Intoxicate

Definition: to make someone drunk

Synonyms: befuddle, galvanize, animate
Example: The drug has the power to heal or intoxicate.

5. Intersect

Definition: to cross one another
Synonyms: cross, bisect, traverse

Example: The roads intersect near the bridge.

6. Interface

Definition: to communicate with someone
Synonyms: collaborate, interact, connect
Example: We use email to interface with our customers.

7. Improvise

Definition: to compose and deliver without previous preparation
Synonyms: extemporize, brainstorm, concoct

Example: I hadn’t prepared a speech so I suddenly had to improvise.

8. Inflict

Definition: to force someone to experience something very unpleasant

Synonyms: exact, impose, wreak
Example: These new bullets are capable of inflicting massive injuries.

9. Impart

Definition: to communicate information to someone
Synonyms: convey, transmit, relay
Example: I didn’t feel I had much wisdom to impart on the subject.

10. Inject

Definition: to introduce something new that is necessary or helpful to a situation or process
Synonyms: administer, introduce, shoot
Example: I tried to inject a little humor into the meeting.

Verbs That Start with I You Occasionally Use

Some verbs are more complex or simply less frequent than others. The following is a list of verb words that start with I and are used occasionally in our writings and conversations.

1. Impeach

Definition: to accuse a public official before an appropriate tribunal of misconduct
Synonyms: indict, charge, accuse
Example: The governor was impeached for wrongful use of state money.

2. Impede

Definition: to slow something down or prevent an activity from making progress at its previous rate
Synonyms: hinder, obstruct, hamper
Example: Shortages of medicine were impeding the effort to control diseases.

3. Intermingle

Definition: to become mixed together
Synonyms: mix, blend, merge
Example: Fact is intermingled with fiction throughout the book.

4. Iterate

Definition: to say or do something repeatedly
Synonyms: rehearse, reiterate, repeat
Example: No matter how fast you iterate, it takes time to get the product right

5. Incline

Definition: to be favorably disposed towards or willing to do something
Synonyms: willing, ready, likely
Example: The prime minister is believed to be inclining towards an April election.

6. Intercept

Definition: to stop and catch something or someone before that thing or person is able to reach a particular place
Synonyms: stop, impede, obstruct
Example: Barry intercepted Naylor’s pass and scored the third goal.

7. Immunize

Definition: to protect a person or animal against a disease by putting a substance into the body to make it produce antibodies
Synonyms: vaccinate, inject
Example: Children are routinely immunized against polio.

8. Intertwine

Definition: to twist or be twisted together
Synonyms: interweave, interlace
Example: The town’s prosperity is intertwined with the fortunes of the factory.

9. Institutionalize

Definition: establish something as a convention or norm in an organization or culture
Synonyms: authorize, commend, charge
Example: He institutionalized the practice of collaborative research on a grand scale.

10. Instill

Definition: to infuse slowly or gradually into the mind or feelings
Synonyms: implant, ingrain, infuse
Example: It is part of a teacher’s job to instill confidence into his or her students.

Verbs That Start with I You Seldom Use

While verbs beginning with I are fairly typical, there are a few variations that are seldom encountered. Following is a list of verbs that start with the letter I and are used very seldom.

1. Invigorate

Definition: to make someone feel fresher, healthier, and more energetic
Synonyms: revitalize, energize
Example: We were invigorated by our walk.

2. Insulate

Definition: to protect someone or something from harmful experiences or influences
Synonyms: separate, cover, enclose
Example: Children should be insulated from the horrors of war.

3. Insinuate

Definition: to suggest, without being direct, that something unpleasant is true
Synonyms: imply, suggest, hint
Example: Are you insinuating that I’m losing my nerve?

4. Impregnate

Definition: to cause a substance to absorb a liquid substance
Synonyms: soak, saturate, drench
Example: This cloth is impregnated with a cleaning solution.

5. Incubate

Definition: to keep something warm, causing it to develop, especially to keep eggs warm until the young are born
Synonyms: brood, hatch
Example: Condors incubate only one egg and raise one chick at a time.

6. Impel

Definition: to make someone feel that they must do something
Synonyms: force, compel, demand
Example: I wonder what it is that impels him to exercise all the time.

7. Impale

Definition: to push a sharp object through something
Synonyms: spike, pin, pierce
Example: The dead deer was impaled on a spear.

8. Impinge

Definition: to have an effect, especially a negative one
Synonyms: affect, touch, influence
Example: Several factors impinge on market efficiency.

9. Incarcerate

Definition: to put or keep someone in prison
Synonyms: imprison, jail
Example: The governor announced his plan to incarcerate repeat offenders.

10. Intercede

Definition: to act or interpose in behalf of someone in difficulty or trouble, as by pleading or petition
Synonyms: mediate, negotiate
Example: Several religious leaders have interceded with the authorities on behalf of the condemned prisoner.

Verbs That Start with I You Rarely Use

Some I-verbs are rarely used or even heard of in our daily lives. When a reader learns them, he is astounded to know that that such a verb even exists. Below are some of those verbs that start with I.

1. Imbue

Definition: to fill something or someone with a quality or feeling
Synonyms: instill, ingrain, inspire
Example: Her poetry was imbued with a love of the outdoors.

2. Imbibe

Definition: to drink, especially alcohol
Synonyms: drink, consume, swallow
Example: He imbibed great quantities of iced tea.

3. Interpolate

Definition: to add something in the middle of a text, piece of music, etc.
Synonyms: add, integrate, enter
Example: Coleridge-Taylor was keen on interpolating African-American spirituals into the classical music tradition.

4. Inundate

Definition: to give someone so much work or so many things that they cannot deal with it all
Synonyms: overburden, overwhelm, swamp
Example: We have been inundated with requests for help.

5. Irradiate

Definition: to treat with light or other types of radiation
Synonyms: emblaze, lighten, illuminate,
Example: The cells are irradiated so that they cannot reproduce.

6. Indemnify

Definition: to compensate for damage or loss sustained
Synonyms: reimburse, compensate, repay
Example: Each of the parties shall indemnify me for all reasonable costs of defending such actions and proceedings.

7. Immure

Definition: to enclose or confine someone against their will
Synonyms: confine incarcerate imprison jail
Example: Her brother was immured in a lunatic asylum.

8. Importune

Definition: to beg for something urgently or persistently
Synonyms: beg, pester, implore
Example: As a tourist, you are importuned for money the moment you step outside your hotel.

9. Impugn

Definition: to cause people to doubt someone’s character, qualities, or reputation by criticizing them
Synonyms: challenge, question, disputes
Example: Are you impugning my competence as a professional designer?

10. Incinerate

Definition: to burn something completely
Synonyms: cremate, burn, carbonize
Example: Waste packaging is to be incinerated rather than buried in landfills.

Positive Verbs That Start with I

Some verbs have a positive connotation while others do not. Following is a list of positive verbs that start with I and carry a positive connotation that you must know.

1. Inspire

Definition: to make someone feel that they want to do something and can do it
Synonyms: stimulate, motivate, encourage
Example: His confident leadership inspired his followers.

2. Impress

Definition: to cause someone to admire or respect you
Synonyms: influence, affect, rouse, dazzle
Example: He tried to impress me with his extensive knowledge of wine.

3. Improve

Definition: to get better, or to make something better
Synonyms: better, ameliorate, upgrade
Example: Her grades have improved greatly this semester.

4. Invest

Definition: to devote (time, talent, etc.) to achieve something
Synonyms: fund, back, finance
Example: He invested a lot of time in cleaning up the neighborhood after the flood.

5. Immortalize

Definition: to cause someone to be remembered for a very long time
Synonyms: preserve, commemorate, memorialize
Example: He will be forever immortalized in the history books.

6. Illuminate

Definition: to light something and make it brighter
Synonyms: light, brighten, irradiate
Example: The streets were illuminated with strings of colored lights.

7. Innovate

Definition: to introduce something new; to make changes in anything established
Synonyms: introduce, unveil, invent
Example: The fashion industry is always desperate to innovate.

8. Instruct

Definition: to teach someone how to do something
Synonyms: enlighten, teach, coach
Example: His job is to instruct people in the use of the gym equipment.

9. Influence

Definition: to cause something to be changed
Synonyms: affect, govern, shape
Example: That speech influenced the course of American history.

10. Incorporate

Definition: to include something within something else
Synonyms: embody, comprise, subsume
Example: This aircraft incorporates several new safety features.

Verbs That Start with I – Full List (285 words)

Ice
Idealize
Ideate
Identify
Idle
Idolize
Ignite
Ignore
Illegalize
Illtreat
Illume
Illuminate
Illumine
Illustrate
Image
Imagine
Imbed
Imbibe
Imbricate
Imbrue
Imbue
Imitate
Immaterialize
Immerge
Immerse
Immigrate
Immingle
Immix
Immobilize
Immolate
Immortalize
Immunize
Immure
Impact
Impair
Impale
Impanel
Impart
Impeach
Impede
Impel
Impend
Imperil
Impersonate
Impinge
Implant
Implement
Implicate
Implode
Implore
Imply
Import
Importune
Impose
Impound
Impoverish
Imprecate
Impregnate
Impress
Imprint
Imprison
Improve
Improvise
Impugn
Impute
Inactivate
Inaugurate
Incandesce
Incapacitate
Incarcerate
Incarnadine
Incarnate
Incase
Incense
Inch
Incinerate
Incise
Incite
Incline
Inclose
Include
Incommode
Inconvenience
Incorporate
Increase
Incriminate
Incrust
Incubate
Inculcate
Inculpate
Incur
Incurvate
Indemnify
Indent
Indenture
Index
Indicate
Indict
Indispose
Indite
Individualize
Individuate
Indoctrinate
Indorse
Induce
Induct
Indue
Indulge
Indurate
Industrialize
Indwell
Inebriate
Infatuate
Infect
Infer
Infest
Infiltrate
Infix
Inflame
Inflate
Inflect
Inflict
Influence
Inform
Infract
Infringe
Infuriate
Infuscate
Infuse
Ingest
Ingraft
Ingrain
Ingratiate
Ingurgitate
Inhabit
Inhale
Inhere
Inherit
Inhibit
Inhume
Initial
Initialize
Initiate
Inject
Injure
Ink
Inlay
Innervate
Innovate
Inoculate
Inosculate
Input
Inquire
Inscribe
Inseminate
Insert
Inset
Insinuate
Insist
Insolate
Inspan
Inspect
Inspire
Inspirit
Inspissate
Instal
Install
Instance
Instantiate
Instigate
Instil
Instill
Institute
Institutionalize
Instruct
Instrument
Insufflate
Insulate
Insult
Insure
Integrate
Intellectualize
Intend
Intensify
Inter
Interact
Interbreed
Intercalate
Intercede
Intercept
Interchange
Intercommunicate
Interconnect
Interdepend
Interdict
Interest
Interfere
Interiorize
Interject
Interlace
Interlard
Interleave
Interlink
Interlock
Interlope
Interlude
Intermarry
Intermediate
Intermingle
Intermit
Intermix
Intern
Internalize
Internationalize
Interpellate
Interpenetrate
Interpolate
Interpose
Interpret
Interrelate
Interrogate
Interrupt
Intersect
Intersperse
Interstratify
Intertwine
Intervene
Interview
Interweave
Intimate
Intimidate
Intonate
Intone
Intoxicate
Intrench
Intrigue
Introduce
Introject
Intromit
Introspect
Introvert

Intrude
Intrust
Intubate
Intuit
Intumesce
Inundate
Inure
Invade
Invaginate
Invalid
Invalidate
Inveigh
Inveigle
Invent
Inventory
Invert
Invest
Investigate
Invigilate
Invigorate
Invite
Invoice
Invoke
Involve
Inweave
Iodinate
Iodize
Ionize
Irk
Iron

Irradiate
Irrigate
Irritate
Irrupt
Isolate
Isomerize
Issue
Italianize
Italicize
Itch
Itemise
Itemize
Iterate
Itinerate

Final Thoughts on Verbs That Start with I

Thank you for going through this article and it is hoped that it would have proved fruitful to you. You might begin to ask a lot of questions from yourself about the concept presented in this article. For example, how many of these verbs beginning with I are you familiar with? How many of these verbs starting with I do you use on a regular basis? Are there any verbs on this list that you recognize but don’t know how to use in phrases or sentences? All these questions mean that you have completely grasped the concept. Now the next step is the practical application of these verbs that start with I. Practically applying these verbs in your daily life routine will not just enhance your skill level but will also groom your expressive language.