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.

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.

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

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