Verbs that start with the letter “W” offer many opportunities to explore how we experience and understand the world.
Whether you are expressing your thoughts in writing, having a conversation, or simply reflecting on your own experiences, these verbs play a critical role in helping you convey meaning and context.
The Most Common Verbs That Start With The Letter W
To want
The verb “want” is a modal verb expressing a desire or need for something, a lack or shortage of something, or an intention or preference.
When expressing a desire or need, “want” is usually followed by a noun or an infinitive phrase (e.g., “to do something”).
For example, “I want a drink” or “She wants to go home.”
When expressing a lack or shortage, “want” is often used with the negative form “don’t” or with another negative word such as “nothing,” “nobody,” etc.
For example, “I don’t want anything” or “There’s nothing she wants.”
In some contexts, “want” indicates an intention or preference.
For example, “I want to do it myself” or “Do you want to come with us?”
It’s also worth noting that “want” can sometimes be used more informally or casually to express a preference, such as “I want pizza for dinner” or “Do you want to watch a movie?”
To wake
The verb “wake” means to become or cause to become consciousness after sleeping or unconsciousness.
For example: “I need to wake up early tomorrow.” or “The loud noise woke him up.”
It also means to rouse from inactivity or a state of lethargy, such as:
“The warm sun finally woke the plants from their winter sleep.” or “The music woke the partygoers from their boredom.”
In some contexts, “wake” can be related to the trail left behind by a moving object, such as a boat or a bird, as in:
“The boat left a wake on the calm lake.” or “The bird flew overhead, leaving a wake of flapping wings.”
To watch
The verb “watch” means observing or paying attention to something, usually over time.
For example: “I’m watching a movie.” or “She’s watching the kids play in the park.”
It can also be related to waiting or looking for something to happen, such as:
“We’re watching for any signs of trouble.” or “I’ll be watching the news to see if there’s any update.”
In some cases, “to watch” means to guard or keep an eye on something, such as:
“Can you watch my bag while I go to the bathroom?” or “The guard was watching the entrance to the building.”
Overall, ” watch” is commonly used to describe observing or paying attention to something, whether it’s a movie, a person, an event, or something else.
To wish
The verb “wish” means to desire or hope for something that is not currently present or attainable.
For example: “I wish I had a million dollars.” or “She wishes she could speak French fluently.”
Moreover, it is used to express regret or disappointment about something that has already happened, such as:
“I wish I hadn’t eaten so much.” or “He wishes he hadn’t said that.”
In some cases, “wish” is used to offer good wishes or greetings to someone, such as:
“I wish you a happy birthday.” or “We wish you all the best in your new job.”
To wash
The verb “wash” means cleaning something, usually with water, soap, or another cleaning agent.
For example: “I need to wash my hands.” or “She washed the dishes after dinner.”
It is often related to rinsing or cleansing something, such as:
“He washed the dirt off his clothes.” or “She washed the fruit before eating it.”
In some contexts, “wash” can mean to remove or clean away something, such as:
“The rain washed away the dirt on the sidewalk.” or “The waves washed the sand from the shore.”
To walk
The verb “walk” means moving or traveling on foot, usually by taking steps.
For example: “I like to walk in the park.” or “She walks to work every day.”
It is often related to moving or taking steps in a particular manner, such as:
“He walks with a limp.” or “She walked confidently into the room.”
In some cases, “walk” is used as a noun to refer to a journey or trip taken on foot, such as:
“The walk to the store took longer than expected.” or “The walk along the beach was beautiful.”
To wait
The verb “wait” means to stay in one place or remain stationary, expecting something to happen or someone to arrive.
For example: “I’m waiting for the bus.” or “She’s waiting for her friends to call.”
It might also mean delaying or putting off taking action until a later time, such as:
“We’re waiting to see if the weather improves.” or “I‘ll wait to see what he says before making a decision.”
In some cases, “wait” is used to describe the act of being patient or enduring a difficult situation, such as:
“She had to wait for hours in the doctor’s office.” or “I’m waiting for the right opportunity to come along.”
To warn
The verb “warn” means to give caution or advice about a potential danger, risk, or harm.
For example: “The weatherman warned of a storm.” or “She warned her friends about the danger of smoking.”
It also informs someone of an impending danger or adverse event, such as:
“The captain warned the passengers about the rough seas ahead.” or “I warned him that he might get in trouble if he continues to break the rules.”
Additionally, “warn” is used to express a sense of caution or advice in a more general sense, such as: “I want to warn you about the risks of investing in that stock.” or “The teacher warned the students about the consequences of cheating on the exam.”
To welcome
The verb “welcome” means to greet or receive someone warmly and with pleasure, often when they arrive at a place.
For example: “We welcomed our guests with open arms.” or “The host welcomed us into her home.”
It can express a sense of acceptance or agreement, such as:
“The company welcomed the new employees with open hearts.” or “I welcome your suggestions on how to improve the project.”
Moreover, “welcome” can be used to describe the act of extending an invitation or offering someone the opportunity to participate, such as:
“The president welcomed the delegates to the conference.” or “I would like to welcome you to join us for lunch.”
To work
The verb “work” refers to doing a job or task, usually in exchange for pay or compensation.
For example: “I work at a software company.” or “She works as a nurse.”
It also refers to applying effort or energy towards a specific goal or objective, such as:
“I’m working on a new project.” or “The team is working hard to meet the deadline.”
In some contexts, “work” can describe the process by which something operates or functions, such as:
“The engine doesn’t work.” or “The machine is not working properly.”
Additionally, “work” can be used in a more general sense to describe the process of producing a desired outcome, such as:
“This plan is not working.” or “The therapy is working well for her.”
To worry
The verb “worry” means to feel anxious or concerned about something, often about a future event or situation.
For example: “I worry about my future.” or “She worries about her health.”
It might also refer to causing someone to feel anxious or concerned, such as:
“His words worried her.” or “The news of the accident worried us all.”
The verb “worry” can describe the act of being overly concerned or obsessed with something, such as:
“She worries too much about her appearance.” or “He worries about every little detail.”
More Verbs That Start With W
Water
Weight
Wave
Whisper
Wrap
Wrestle
Whistle
Wonder
Waste
Wipe
Wreck
Wriggle
Similar content:
