40 Verbs That Start with Z [with Definitions and Examples]

In English language, there are only a few verbs that start with Z. There is no apparent answer to the question that why there aren’t many verbs beginning with Z. If we start counting other types of words starting with letter Z, we won’t find many either. So, it can be established that letter Z is used very less in English language.

Z is the twenty-sixth and final letter of the modern English alphabet and the ISO basic Latin alphabet. Its usual names in English are zed and zee, with an occasional archaic variant izzard.

There are certain verbs starting with Z that are used to describe chemical reactions, biological processes, and physical measurements. An interesting fact about such verbs is that they have originated from the names of the atomic elements or physical instruments that are involved in actions those verbs perform. For example, the verb zirconiate has emerged from the word zirconium (noun) which is an atomic element. Those English language users who haven’t read about these things often face difficulty in comprehending and using these verbs. Despite knowing the fact that the list of verbs that start with Z is a very short one, people often encounter trouble using them due to their complex nature. Apart from that, there is also an absence of the type of verbs that start with Z to describe a person or place.

In order to know about verbs that start with Z in detail, continue reading this article.

Table of Contents

Verbs That Start with Z You Always Use

Our lives are full of actions and those actions are carried out by the use of verbs. Following are some of the verbs that start with Z that we use the most.

1. Zip

Definition: to move quickly

Synonyms: dash, hurry, zoom
Example: We were about to cross the road when a car suddenly zipped past.

2. Zoom

Definition: to move quickly

Synonyms: buzz, dash, whiz
Example: They got into the car and zoomed off.

3. Zap

Definition: move or cause to move suddenly and rapidly

Synonyms: sprint, rush, dash
Example: Racing cars zapped past us on the track below.

4. Zone

Definition: to divide an area for a certain purpose
Synonyms: divide, cut, partition

Example: When are they going to zone the land for our house?

5. Zigzag

Definition: to move in a pattern on a line with sharp turns and angles
Synonyms: bend, crinkle, snake
Example: They watched the yellow Ferrari zigzag up the road.

Verbs That Start with Z You Usually Use

In our verbal and written communications, we use some verbs more than the others. Following is a list of verbs starting with Z that we usually use in our daily life routine.

1. Zero

Definition: to concentrate directly on a target
Synonyms: focus, concentrate, fixate
Example: He zeroed in his rifle at 200 yards.

2. Zest

Definition: to remove small pieces from the rind of a citrus fruit as a flavor in cooking
Synonyms: flavor, season, grate
Example: Kindly zest the oranges and lemons.

3. Zonk

Definition: to lose consciousness
Synonyms: faint, swoon, black out
Example: I always just zonk out and sleep straight through.

4. Zincify

Definition: to treat or coat with zinc

Synonyms: cover, galvanize, impregnate
Example: Turbine’s surface was zincified.

5. Zig

Definition: make a sharp change of direction
Synonyms: drift, curve
Example: We zigged to the right.

Verbs That Start with Z You Often Use

There are some verbs that are either much complicated or just less common than the rest. Following is a list of verbs starting with Z that we often make use of.

1. Zing

Definition: move rapidly
Synonyms: dash, gallop, scamper
Example: Another bullet zinged past him.

2. Zipper

Definition: fasten or provide with a zipper
Synonyms: fix, fasten, secure
Example: He zippered up his suit very tight.

3. Zombify

Definition: to turn (an active alert person) into a zombie
Synonyms: transform, change, alter
Example: Alan was zombified in the TV serial “The Walking Dead”.

4. Zariba

Definition: to halt enemy’s entrance by building a thorn fence fortifying a camp or village.

Synonyms: cutoff, terminate
Example: Sudanese army zaribaed their base.

5. Zot

Definition: to strike someone or something with one’s fist
Synonyms: beat, bash, smack
Example: The bouncer zotted the unruly patron on the side of the head.

Verbs That Start with Z You Sometimes Use

Some of the verbs beginning with Z might be pretty commonly used, but there are also some among them that are only used at sometimes. Following is a list of such verbs.

1. Zoutch

Definition: To stew, as flounders, eels, etc., with just enough liquid to cover them
Synonyms: boil, cook

Example: Eels were zoutched in light olive oil.

2. Zeroize

Definition: to set, reset or initialize something (especially a variable or parameter) to zero
Synonyms: load, boot, set
Example: Before turning the circuit on, the multimeter was zeroized.

3. Zuluize

Definition: to adapt to the Zulu culture or language
Synonyms: transform, convert
Example: He was zuluized within a few months of reaching Zulu lands.

4. Zolaize

Definition: to write in, or adapt to, the style of the French writer Émile Zola
Synonyms: adapt, accustom, conform
Example: You must zolaize your writings to get recognition.

5. Zephyr

Definition: to blow or move like a zephyr
Synonyms: breeze, puff, waft
Example: Violets zephyred in the west wind.

Verbs That Start with Z You Occasionally Use

It is often difficult to find suitable verbs that start with Z that we can put to use in our writings and conversations. Here are some of the verb words that start with Z that are occasionally used by writers and speakers.

1. Zizzle

Definition: to make the hissing sound characteristic of frying fat
Synonyms: wheeze, whir

Example: Water under the action of boiling is sometimes said to zizzle.

2. Zirconiate

Definition: to treat or coat with zirconium
Synonyms: cover, galvanize, coat
Example: Stationary gas turbines are increasingly being zirconiated these days.

3. Zhuzh

Definition: to make something more interesting or attractive by changing it slightly or adding something to it
Synonyms: liven, furnish
Example: The stylist said he would zhuzh up the outfit with a hat.

4. Zoomorphize

Definition: to make zoomorphic; to attribute an animal form or nature to a deity or supernatural being
Synonyms: goatish, attribute, impute
Example: The clan founder was zoomorphized as a spirit bear.

5. Zotz

Definition: to kill or murder someone
Synonyms: exterminate, assassinate, eliminate
Example: I heard Tommy Tuco git zotzed by the Farreli family last week.

Verbs That Start with Z You Seldom Use

Some verbs are either more complex or just simply less frequent than others. Following is a list of verb words that start with the letter Z and are seldom used in our writings and conversations.

1. Zhng

Definition: to modify or upgrade

Synonyms: rework, tweak, beatify
Example: Hey mechanic! Kindly zhng my car.

2. Zany

Definition: to mimic
Synonyms: imitate, mock, copy
Example: He was zanying me in his play.

3. Zorb

Definition: to roll downhill or engage in sports in a zorb ball
Synonyms: bowl, drive, reel
Example: He zorbed the ball from the top of the cliff.

4. Zionify

Definition: to increase the Zionistic nature of
Synonyms: convert, transform
Example: The cause for Nazism, fascism is without a doubt Zionism and the West HAS to be de zionified for the good of its existence.

5. Zeriba

Definition: to erect or take refuge within a zeriba
Synonyms: shelter, harbor, hide
Example: They zeribaed in the zeriba when the rain started to pour.

Verbs That Start with Z You Rarely Use

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

1. Zionize

Definition: to convert to Zionism
Synonyms: transform, baptize, reform
Example: The Israeli government has attempted to zionize Jerusalem and transform it.

2. Zeolitize

Definition: to convert (or be converted) into a zeolite
Synonyms: convert, transform, form
Example: Aluminum and silicon compounds were zeolitized in the lab.

3. Zerg

Definition: to attack an opponent with a large swarm of units before they have been able to build sufficient defenses
Synonyms: ambush, besiege

Example: Vikings zerged the wildings after dark.

4. Zizz

Definition: make a whizzing or buzzing sound.
Synonyms: whiz, whir
Example: The banger started zizzing furiously.

5. Zinc

Definition: to treat or coat with zinc
Synonyms: coat, enclose
Example: Guard rails were zinced in the factory.

Positive Verbs That Start with Z

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 Z that you should have at your disposal.

1. Zoologize

Definition: to engage in the study of zoology
Synonyms: inspect, study, memorize
Example: Rabail has been zoologizing for the past three years.

2. Zhoosh

Definition: to make (something) more lively, interesting, stylish, or appealing, as by a small change or addition
Synonyms: furnish, decorate, provision

Example: These colorful throw pillows are an easy way to zhoosh up your living room.

3. Zither

Definition: to play a musical instrument shaped like a flat box
Synonyms: fiddle, fidget
Example: He zithers with charming effect.

4. Zipline

Definition: to ride for recreation along a suspended, inclined cable equipped with a pulley and a harness
Synonyms: dangle, ride, hung
Example: We ziplined for more than two hours through the rainforest.

5. Zouk

Definition: to dance to zouk music
Synonyms: waltz, dance, whirl
Example: She was zouking away enthusiastically.

Verbs That Start with Z – Full List (40 words)

Zip
Zoom
Zap
Zone
Zigzag
Zero
Zest
Zonk
Zincify
Zig
Zing
Zipper
Zombify
Zariba
Zot
Zoutch
Zeroize
Zuluize
Zolaize
Zephyr
Zizzle
Zirconiate
Zhuzh
Zoomorphize
Zotz
Zhng
Zany
Zorb
Zionify
Zeriba
Zionize
Zeolitize
Zerg
Zizz
Zinc
Zoologize
Zhoosh
Zither
Zipline
Zouk

Final Thoughts on Verbs That Start with Z

It is hoped that you would have enjoyed reading this article and would have learnt a few new verbs that start with Z. By now you also would have known that verbs starting with Z are very rare. If you have memorized some of the verbs beginning with Z, the next step is really very critical for you as well, and that comprises the practical application of these verbs in phrases, clauses and sentences that you either write or utter. Practically applying these verbs in your daily life routine will not just enhance your skill level but will also groom your expressive language.