Whenever you speak, you likely use multiple different types of words, such as nouns, conjunctions, and verbs.
But do you ever stop and think about their role in a sentence and how they modify your speech?
If you’re curious about these words and want to know more, it’s time to tackle that curiosity.
This article will explore the most common four-letter verbs and their meaning.
We will use clear examples to make these verbs clear and easy to understand.
Keep reading to discover the most common four-letter verbs and others, a tad rarer.
The Meaning and Examples of the Most Common 4-Letter Verbs
Born
The verb born is a word that can only be used in the passive and means to come out of the mother’s body and take the first breath.
Here are the examples that will help you understand it better.
”I was born in 1999.”
”Her son was born by C-section and is doing well.”
”The baby was born to parents of Irish descent.”
”Sadly, these kids are born into poverty.”
”I have to warn potential employers that I was born blind.”
However, this verb can also mark the start of the existence of an organization, thought, idea, movement, etc.
”Her courage was born out of rage.”
”That’s the building where the notorious sect was born.”
The verb born can also mean being born in a particular order, place, etc.
”He is his firstborn.”
”Both of my parents are Spanish-born.”
”The song is sung by an Argentinian-born hip-hop singer.”
This verb is often used as a part of the idiom of being born or made a certain way.
”Miranda is unapologetic because she was born that way.”
”I’m a born and raised New Yorker.”
”Incredible; it’s like he was born to be an artist!”
There are few synonyms for this verb, but those that come close are delivered and bred.
Bowl
Bowl is an intransitive and transitive word that typically means rolling a ball in bowls and bowling games.
The following example will make the meaning clearer.
”Now it’s your turn to bowl; go on!”
However, it can also mean to move fast in a specific direction.
”Tonight, we’ll bowl along the city roads.”
The best synonyms for this verb are fling, throw, and hurl.
Beat
The verb beat is an intransitive and transitive word that means to be better than someone in something, typically in a game or sport.
The following examples will clarify the meaning of this verb.
”It seems like you must always beat me in tennis.”
”The French team will beat us in the finals.”
”Sorry, but nothing can beat homemade cookies.”
”If you want to chill on the beach and drink cocktails, then Hawaii is a choice that no other destination can beat.”
However, this verb can also mean to hurt someone physically.
For example:
”If they continue that way, Jason will beat Marcus with his fists.”
The most common synonyms for this verb are batter, hit, strike, and punch.
Come
The verb come is a mostly intransitive word (it is only transitive in rare cases) that means to arrive somewhere, go to a specific destination, or move in a specific way while doing something else.
The following examples will help you understand this verb better.
”Come here right away!”
”Will Jessie come tonight?”
”Walk in that direction until you come to the street with houses with red bricks.”
”Sorry, but did any documents come for me?”
”Your order will come soon.”
”I’ve come to pick my dinner.”
”Are you going to come to the cinema with us tomorrow?”
”I won’t come running every time you call me!”
”The moment has come for you to do something about your life.”
This verb is only transitive when used in questions asking why or how something happened.
”How did Georgina come to break her arm?”
The most common synonyms for this verb are approach, advance, proceed, and arrive.
Cook
The verb cook is an intransitive and transitive word that means to prepare food, typically by heating, boiling, or baking it. Read the following examples to understand the meaning better.
”I’m curious about the best way to cook pasta.”
”Will you cook the dinner for me?”
”Turn the meat over; that way, it will cook better.”
The most common synonyms for this verb are prepare, brew, make, and fix.
Call
Call is an intransitive and transitive verb that means giving someone a name or nickname or phoning someone.
For example:
”The parents decided to call the son Jason.”
”You can call me by my first name at this point.”
”I will call you letter.”
”Call 0099 7766699 if you’re not feeling well.”
This verb can also mean asking someone or something to come fast to a specific place by making a phone call.
”Let me call a taxi for your friend.”
”We must call the ambulance!”
Moreover, this verb can be used to describe something or someone in a specific way or consider someone something or someone. For example:
”The girls call themselves ‘Divas.”
”Would you call that color pink or rose?”
”Sorry, but you shouldn’t call yourself a feminist.”
The most common synonyms for this verb are name, designate, and shout.
Draw
Draw is an intransitive and transitive verb that means making pictures with a tool, typically a pencil, chalk, or pen. For example:
”You draw mesmerizingly.”
However, this verb can also mean pulling something or someone closer by pulling them or it softly.
”I genuinely tried to draw the guy aside.”
”Did you draw her closer to you to talk in private?”
The most common synonyms for this verb are design, sketch, and depict.
Exit
The verb exit is an intransitive and transitive word that means to leave a particular place, go out, or finish using an app or computer program. The following examples will help you understand it better.
”I will exit the building through the back door.”
”You can exit that way.”
”Press the return button to exit the page.”
”Just press this key, and you’ll exit the app.”
The most common synonyms for this verb are go away, leave, depart, and go out.
Earn
The verb earn is a transitive word that means get money for completed work or as interest or profit from cash kept in the bank. The following examples will help you understand it better.
”You can earn up to $200,000 a year in this job.”
”His accomplishments will earn him a stellar reputation and significant money.”
”The amount you have could earn much more in a high-interest type of account.”
However, this verb can also mean getting something you deserve after working hard. For example:
”I think I will earn a week of good rest if I continue performing this way.”
The most common synonyms for this verb are acquire, accomplish, attain, and reach a goal.
Grab
Grab is an intransitive and transitive verb that means holding or taking something or someone.
Read the following examples for a better understanding.
”Don’t grab the beer because there’s enough for every guest.”
”He used to grab my hands and not let me go.”
”You will scare him if you grab him from behind.”
”I will grab a hot dog before we go home.”
But this verb can also mean seizing an opportunity.
”I will finally grab my chance and take that job!”
The most common synonyms for this verb are take hold of, seize, snatch, and grasp.
Risk
Risk is a verb that means doing something that might not be the best idea, but it could have a good payoff. For example:
”There was no other choice but to risk everything; otherwise, my friends could have died.”
”I can’t risk telling anyone what happened.”
”It was a tough decision, but I took the risk in the end.”
The most common synonyms for this verb are endanger, put on the line, and imperil.
Other common four-letter verbs
Hump
Bake
Bike
Code
Dare
Film
Fall
Fish
Feed
Game
Give
Help
Hurt
Know
Look
Live
Open
Play
Quit
Want
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