108 Verbs That Start with W [with Definitions and Examples]

This article contains verbs that start with W. Verbs starting with W are really useful in your daily life especially if you use the English language or want to excel in it. Not only verbs beginning with W but any verb is needed in every sentence and so the more you know the better it is for impressing others with your writing.

In order to write an exceptional article or whatever it is that you are trying to write, it is crucial to use advanced words and verbs. These verbs that start with W will help you to expand your vocabulary and write a praiseworthy script. If you memorize these verbs that start with W mentioned here, writing will be a piece of cake for you.

This article contains a list of verbs that start with W which are unique and fun. You can also use verbs that start with W to describe a person.

Table of Contents

Verbs That Start with W You Always Use

If you are in need of some verbs that are commonly used by people, then these verbs that start with W are perfect as they are common and easy to understand as well.

1. Will

Definition: expressing the future tense
Synonyms: do, gain

Example: You will regret it when you are older.

2. Wake

Definition: emerge or cause to emerge from sleep; stop sleeping
Synonyms: awake, awaken

Example: She woke up feeling better.

3. Wait

Definition: stay where one is or delay action until a particular time or event
Synonyms: stand by, hold back

Example: I rang the bell and waited.

4. Walk

Definition: move at a regular pace by lifting and setting down each foot in turn, never having both feet off the ground at once
Synonyms: stroll, amble
Example: I walked across the lawn.

5. Was

Definition: past simple of be
Synonyms: be, is
Example: There was no lack of demand for the product.

6. Want

Definition: have a desire to possess or do (something); wish for
Synonyms: desire, fancy
Example: I want an apple.

7. Word

Definition: express (something spoken or written) in particular words

Synonyms: express, put
Example: He words his request in a particularly ironic way.

8. Write

Definition: mark (letters, words, or other symbols) on a surface, typically paper, with a pen, pencil, or similar implement
Synonyms: note, log
Example: He wrote his name on the paper.

9. Watch

Definition: look at or observe attentively over a period of time
Synonyms: observe, view
Example: Lucy watched him go.

10. Wash

Definition: clean with water and, typically, soap or detergent
Synonyms: clean, cleanse
Example: Auntie Lou had washed all their clothes.

Verbs That Start with W You Usually Use

These verbs starting with W are used frequently and so you might already know most of them but keeping them in a list like these is useful. So keep on reading to find out if you know them or not.

1. War

Definition: engage in a war
Synonyms: fight, battle
Example: Small states warred against each another.

2. Wall

Definition: enclose (an area) within walls, especially for protection or privacy
Synonyms: enclose, bound
Example: Parts of the city’s East End had been walled off with concrete barricades.

3. Waste

Definition: use or expend carelessly, extravagantly, or to no purpose
Synonyms: squander, misuse
Example: We can’t afford to waste electricity.

4. Wear

Definition: have (something) on one’s body as clothing, decoration, or protection
Synonyms: sport, put on

Example: He was wearing a dark suit.

5. Whine

Definition: give or make a long, high-pitched complaining cry or sound
Synonyms: hum, sing
Example: The dog whined and scratched at the back door.

6. Wild

Definition: treat (a person or animal) harshly, so that they become untrusting or nervous
Synonyms: nervous, untrust
Example: Let your pigeon fly for a while: we don’t want to wild him.

7. Wind

Definition: cause (someone) to have difficulty breathing because of exertion or a blow to the stomach
Synonyms: puffed out, breath out
Example: The fall nearly winded him.

8. Wine

Definition: entertain someone by offering them drinks and a meal.
Synonyms: ask, offer
Example: We wined and dined with Bernard’s friends.

9. Wipe

Definition: clean or dry (something) by rubbing with a cloth, a piece of paper, or one’s hand
Synonyms: rub, clean

Example: Paul wiped his face with a handkerchief.

10. Wrap

Definition: cover or enclose in paper or soft material
Synonyms: swathe, swaddle
Example: The candles are wrapped in tissue paper.

Verbs That Start with W You Often Use

These verbs starting with W are used often in many aspects and so are quite useful as well. Keep on reading in order to increase your vocabulary while finding some new words.

1. Wrestle

Definition: struggle with a difficulty or problem
Synonyms: fight, struggle
Example: For over a year David wrestled with a guilty conscience.

2. Worship

Definition: show reverence and adoration for (a deity)
Synonyms: revere, reverence
Example: The Maya built jungle pyramids to worship their gods.

3. Warn

Definition: inform someone in advance of a possible danger, problem, or other unpleasant situation
Synonyms: notify, alert
Example: His father had warned him of what might happen.

4. Wed

Definition: get married to

Synonyms: mary, tie the knot
Example: He was to wed the king’s daughter.

5. Whisk

Definition: take or move (someone or something) somewhere suddenly and quickly
Synonyms: speed, hurry, rush
Example: He whisked her off to Paris for a few days.

6. Whisper

Definition: speak very softly using one’s breath rather than one’s throat, especially for the sake of secrecy
Synonyms: murmur, mutter
Example: Alison was whispering in his ear.

7. Withdraw

Definition: remove or take away (something) from a particular place or position
Synonyms: remove, extract
Example: Ruth withdrew her hand from his.

8. Whinny

Definition: (of a horse) make a whinny
Synonyms: neigh, utter
Example: The pony whinnied and tossed his head happily.

9. Wag

Definition: (especially with reference to an animal’s tail) move or cause to move rapidly to and fro

Synonyms: swing, sway
Example: His tail began to wag.

10. Waggle

Definition: move or cause to move with short quick movements from side to side or up and down
Synonyms: wag, shake
Example: His arm waggled.

Verbs That Start with W You Sometimes Use

Not all verbs are used as frequently as others, right? In this section are some verbs beginning with W which you may come across sometimes while reading a book.

1. Weave

Definition: form (fabric or a fabric item) by interlacing long threads passing in one direction with others at a right angle to them.
Synonyms: entwine, lace

Example: Textiles woven from linen or wool.

2. Waive

Definition: refrain from insisting on or using (a right or claim)
Synonyms: relinquish, renounce
Example: He will waive all rights to the money.

3. Waltz

Definition: dance a waltz
Synonyms: bop, jig
Example: I waltzed across the floor with the lieutenant”.

4. Woo

Definition: seek the favour, support, or custom of
Synonyms: chase, pursue
Example: Pop stars are being wooed by film companies eager to sign them up.

5. Wad

Definition: line or stuff with wadding

Synonyms: stuff, pad
Example: The quilts are wadded with thick natural cotton.

6. Wreck

Definition: destroy or severely damage (a structure, vehicle, or similar)
Synonyms: crash, smash

Example: The blast wrecked 100 houses.

7. Wreak

Definition: cause (a large amount of damage or harm)

Synonyms: inflict, create
Example: Torrential rainstorms wreaked havoc yesterday.

8. Wend

Definition: go in a specified direction, typically slowly or by an indirect route
Synonyms: meander, wander
Example: They wended their way across the city.

9. Warrant

Definition: justify or necessitate (a course of action)
Synonyms: justify, vindicate
Example: The employees feel that industrial action is warranted.

10. Ween

Definition: to hold as an opinion
Synonyms: suppose, believe
Example: He, I ween, is no sacred personage.

Verbs That Start with W You Occasionally Use

The reason why sometimes we come across some words that we have seen before but can’t figure out what they mean is they are occasionally used. These are some verb words that start with W which are occasionally used.

1. Weep

Definition: shed tears
Synonyms: cry, sob
Example: A grieving mother wept over the body of her daughter.

2. Wane

Definition: (of the moon) have a progressively smaller part of its visible surface illuminated so that it appears to decrease in size
Synonyms: disappear, decrease
Example: The moon wanes when it gradually appears less and less round, after the full moon.

3. Waddle

Definition: walk with short steps and a clumsy swaying motion
Synonyms: toddle, wobble
Example: Three geese waddled across the road.

4. Wheeze

Definition: breath with a whistling or rattling sound in the chest, as a result of an obstruction in the air passages
Synonyms: gasp, hiss
Example: The illness often leaves her wheezing.

5. Wean

Definition: accustom (someone) to managing without something which they have become dependent on
Synonyms: detach, alienate
Example: The doctor tried to wean her off the sleeping pills.

6. Wriggle

Definition: twist and turn with quick writhing movements
Synonyms: squirm, wiggle
Example: The puppy wriggled in his arms.

7. Womble

Definition: wander in a casual or relaxed way
Synonyms: relaxed, casual
Example: Once we’d arrived back in Cambridge, we wombled quietly home.

8. Wring

Definition: squeeze and twist (something) to force liquid from it
Synonyms: twist, screw
Example: She wrung the cloth out in the sink.

9. Wheedle

Definition: use flattery or coaxing in order to persuade someone to do something or give one something
Synonyms: coax, cajole
Example: She wheedled her way onto the guest list.

10. Welsh

Definition: fail to honor (a debt or obligation incurred through a promise or agreement)
Synonyms: break, fail
Example: Banks began welshing on their agreement not to convert dollar reserves into gold.

Verbs That Start with W You Seldom Use

These are some verbs that start with the letter W and have seldom been used. Keep reading as you should never miss out on knowing these words because they can be quite useful.

1. Waul

Definition: give a loud plaintive cry like that of a cat
Synonyms: howl, squall
Example: He was wauling.

2. Warp

Definition: make or become bent or twisted out of shape, typically as a result of the effects of heat or damp
Synonyms: buckle, twist
Example: Moisture had warped the box.

3. Wallop

Definition: strike or hit very hard
Synonyms: hit, beat
Example: They walloped the back of his head with a stick.

4. Wallow

Definition: (of a person) indulge in an unrestrained way in (something that one finds pleasurable)
Synonyms: luxuriate, busk
Example: I was wallowing in the luxury of the hotel.

5. Waver

Definition: move in a quivering way
Synonyms: flicker, quiver
Example: The flame wavered in the draught.

6. Waylay

Definition: stop or interrupt (someone) and detain them in conversation or trouble them in some other way
Synonyms: ambush, attack
Example: He waylaid me on the stairs.

7. Wheel

Definition: push or pull (a vehicle with wheels)
Synonyms: push, roll
Example: Luke was wheeling a barrow.

8. Whirl

Definition: move or cause to move rapidly round and round
Synonyms: rotate, turn
Example: Leaves whirled in eddies of wind.

9. Whelm

Definition: engulf
Synonyms: submerge, bury
Example: A swimmer whelmed in a raging storm.

10. Whet

Definition: sharpen the blade of (a tool or weapon)
Synonyms: sharpen, hone
Example: She took out her dagger and began to whet its blade in even, rhythmic strokes.

Verbs That Start with W You Rarely Use

Aren’t you excited to learn some new words? Read these rarely used W-verbs that can be difficult but helpful at the same time in order to impress others with your vocabulary.

1. Welter

Definition: move in a turbulent fashion
Synonyms: jumble, toss
Example: The streams foam and welter.

2. Whiffle

Definition: make a soft sound, like that of breathing or a gentle wind
Synonyms: wobble, shake
Example: He snored, and as he breathed out he whiffled through loose lips.

3. Whimper

Definition: make a series of low, feeble sounds expressive of fear, pain, or unhappiness
Synonyms: whine, cry
Example: A child in a bed nearby began to whimper.

4. Winch

Definition: hoist or haul with a winch
Synonyms: lift, raise
Example: An attempt to winch survivors of the wreck into a helicopter.

5. Wince

Definition: make a slight involuntary grimace or shrinking movement of the body out of pain or distress
Synonyms: grimace, flinch
Example: He winced at the disgust in her voice.

6. Wield

Definition: hold and use (a weapon or tool)
Synonyms: brandish, wave
Example: A masked raider wielding a handgun.

7. Whittle

Definition: carve (wood) into an object by repeatedly cutting small slices from it
Synonyms: pare, shave
Example: He was sitting at the tent door, whittling a piece of wood with a knife.

8. Wrangle

Definition: have a long, complicated dispute or argument
Synonyms: argue, quarrel
Example: The bureaucrats continue wrangling over the fine print.

9. Writhe

Definition: make twisting, squirming movements or contortions of the body
Synonyms: squarm, thrash
Example: He writhed in agony on the ground.

10. Winnow

Definition: remove (chaff) from grain
Synonyms: separate, divide
Example: Women winnow the chaff from piles of unhusked rice.

Positive Verbs That Start with W

It is really hard to stay positive nowadays, isn’t it? So read these positive verbs that start with W in order to get a serotonin boost or to spread positivity.

1. Work

Definition: be engaged in physical or mental activity in order to achieve a result; do work
Synonyms: toil, labor
Example: She has been working so hard.

2. Win

Definition: acquire or secure as a result of a contest, conflict, bet, or another endeavor
Synonyms: secure, gain
Example: There are hundreds of prizes to be won.

3. Wander

Definition: walk or move in a leisurely or aimless way
Synonyms: stroll, amble
Example: I wandered through the narrow streets.

4. Warble

Definition: (of a bird) sing softly and with a succession of constantly changing notes
Synonyms: trill, sing
Example: Larks were warbling in the trees.

5. Whistle

Definition: emit a clear, high-pitched sound by forcing breath through a small hole between one’s lips or teeth
Synonyms: warble, whine
Example: The audience cheered and whistled.

6. Welcome

Definition: greet (someone arriving) in a polite or friendly way
Synonyms: greet, salute
Example: Hotels should welcome guests in their own language.

7. Wink

Definition: close and open one eye quickly, typically to indicate that something is a joke or a secret or as a signal of affection or greeting
Synonyms: blink, flutter
Example: He winked at Nicole as he passed.

8. Wish

Definition: feel or express a strong desire or hope for something that cannot or probably will not happen
Synonyms: desire, want
Example: We wished for peace.

9. Withstand

Definition: remain undamaged or unaffected by
Synonyms: resist, combat
Example: The structure had been designed to withstand winds of more than 100 mph.

10. Witness

Definition: see (an event, typically a crime or accident) happen
Synonyms: see, watch
Example: She was the staff who witnessed the murder.

Verbs That Start with W – (108 words)

Wad
Waft
Wag
Wage
Wager
Waggle
Wait
Waive
Wake
Waken
Walk
Wall
Wallow
Waltz
Wander
Wane
Want
Warble
Warish
Warm
Warn
Warp
Warrant
Wash
Waste
Watch
Water
Waterproof
Wave
Waver
Wax
Way
Weaken
Weal
Wean
Wear
Weary
Weather
Weave
Wed
Wedge
Wedlock
Weed
Ween
Weep
Weet
Weigh
Weird
Welcome
Weld
Well
Westernize
Wet
Whack
Wheedle
Wheel
Whelp
Whet
While
Whimper
Whimsey
Whine
Whip
Whir
Whirl
Whisk
Whisper
Whistle
White
Whitewash
Whiz
Widen
Wield
Wig
Wiggle
Will
Wilne
Wilt
Win
Wipe
Wire
Wiredraw
Wish
Withdraw
Wither
Withhold
Withstand
Witness
Wobble
Wonder
Woo
Word
Work
Worry
Worsen
Worship
Wound
Wow
Wrangle
Wrap
Wreak
Wreck
Wrestle
Wriggle
Wring
Wrinkle
Write
Wrong

Final Thoughts on Verbs That Start with W

After reading this article so far, I am sure that you came across some new verbs starting with W that you never thought existed. Keep reading these verbs again and again and it will surely help to expand your vocabulary. Of course, we couldn’t fit all the verbs beginning with W as there are hundreds of them but we put some important ones here.

If you learned even one new verb from this list of verbs that start with W, that’s a successful job for us. Hopefully, you found this article helpful and it can come in handy to you when needed.