Verbs are defined as words that are used to express actions or states of being. Of course, there's more to them when helping verbs and linking verbs are taken into consideration. Enjoy reviewing this extensive list of verbs that start with "d." They might be just the winning ticket to your next short story or poem!
50 Verbs Starting With D
Dare to drive through a drove of "d" verbs with us? You can definitely give your vocabulary a boost with this list of 50 verbs that start with "d." Peruse a list of verbs along with a definition and a sampling of synonyms.
Verb | Definition | Synonym |
damage | to injure or impair | ruin, wreck, harm |
dance | to move the feet and body in rhythm | boogie, shake a leg, shimmy |
dare | to challenge someone to do something that requires courage | goad, taunt, provoke |
deal | to distribute, such as dealing a hand of cards | apportion, allot, dispense |
decide | to conclude or make a choice | settle, determine, deem |
declare | to state or announce something publicly | make known, announce, proclaim |
decline | to say no to something | reject, turn down, refuse |
decrease | to make something smaller or fewer | lessen, diminish, abate |
dedicate | to commit to something for a specific use or goal | devote, allot, set aside |
deem | to believe or judge | regard, consider, perceive |
defeat | to win something, thus causing another to lose | beat, surmount, best |
defend | to stand up for, protect or guard | shield, shelter, stand up for |
define | to state the meaning or character of something | describe, explain, specify |
delete | to remove or cancel something | erase, cross out, expunge |
deliver | to bring to someone and hand over | drop-off, leave with, take to |
demonstrate | to show or illustrate something by doing it | perform, walk-through, preview |
deny | to refuse to admit to something | repudiate, reject, contest |
depend | to rely on | count on, trust, bank on |
deploy | to move into position | station, install, place |
derive | to come from, to be created from | originate, arise, descend |
describe | to share details about something | characterize, explain, elucidate |
deserve | to be worthy of or qualified for | earn, merit, warrant |
desire | to wish for or crave something | want, covet, need |
destroy | to damage, ruin or spoil something beyond repair | annihilate, demolish, exterminate |
detect | to uncover or sense something previously hidden | discover, find, reveal |
determine | to find out exactly | ascertain, conclude, verify |
develop | to grow or become more advanced | mature, evolve, unfold |
diagnose | to identify a problem or disease | determine, pinpoint, solve |
die | to stop living | cease, perish, pass away |
differ | to see things differently from another | disagree, diverge, deviate from |
dig | to move the ground, either by hand or with equipment | plow, burrow, break-up |
direct | to supervise, manage or point toward | guide, steer, tell what to do |
disable | to make something not work that was working before | incapacitate, break, turn off |
disagree | to have a different opinion | contradict, oppose, dispute |
disappear | to no longer be able to be seen | vanish, fade, become hidden |
disclose | to make something known or reveal something | confess, share, unveil |
discover | to find something | learn, ascertain, uncover |
discuss | to talk about and consider all aspects | address, consider, engage in dialogue |
display | to show or make visible | exhibit, present, layout |
distribute | to divide up or hand out | allot, dispense, dole |
divide | to separate into two or more parts | portion, divvy, partition |
do | to achieve or complete something | to act, fulfill, carry out |
donate | to give, especially to a philanthropic cause | bequeath, bestow, grant |
download | to save a file to a computer or other device | save, transfer, load |
drag | to pull someone or something with difficulty | tow, pull, haul |
drain | to remove liquid | deplete, void, evacuate |
draw | to make lines, pictures or figures with a writing device | sketch, depict, illustrate |
drink | to bring liquid into the mouth and swallow | imbibe, sip, gulp |
drive | to operate a vehicle | steer, maneuver, pilot |
drop | to cause something to fall down to the ground | release, unhand, plummet |
Exploring Types of Verbs
You can't have a sentence without a verb. That's how important this part of speech is to the English language. Since verbs are such heavy lifters, there are several different types of verbs. Explore three of the most popular and commonly used verb types.
- action verb - The most common type of verb is the action verb. These are verbs that highlight things you can do. Dance and deploy are action verbs. These words refer to performing specific actions. If you tell someone you want to "dance the night away," it's clear what you want to do.
- helping verb - Another common form is the helping verb. These assist the main verb by extending its meaning. An example of a helping verb that starts with "d" is the word did. See this linking verb in action, paired with the main verb "go" in the following sentence: "David did go downtown yesterday.”
- linking verb - There are also linking verbs. They connect the subject of the sentence to additional information, but not to another verb. They are often “to be” verbs, including “am,” “is,” “are,” and “were,” though there are other linking verbs. For example, "should be" is a linking verb. It can be paired with many "d" verbs to form sentences. For example, you could say, "That document should be destroyed."
10 Example Sentences With D Verbs
Since you can't have a sentence without a verb, it's good to know how verbs function in sentences. Simple sentences follow a basic pattern: subject + verb + direct object. Verbs indicate the sentence’s action. They put the subject of the sentence into motion. In the sentence, “Darlene drank Diet Dr. Pepper,” “Darlene” is the subject, “drank” is the verb and “Diet Dr. Pepper” is the direct object.
Verbs that begin with "d" cover an entire realm of activities. Explore ten "d" verbs doing their thing in some real-world sentences.
- How did you damage the car?
- I plan to declare a major this semester.
- Let’s dedicate this book to our first English professor.
- On the test, you will need to define several vocabulary words.
- Please deliver the groceries to the back door.
- That bleach will destroy the Persian rug.
- I detect a little humor in your tone.
- Why did you disappear so soon?
- Do not disclose your address online.
- How should I drain the liquid from the can of tuna?
Dare to Dream
Dare to dream in all your writing. The stronger your verbs are, the more captivating your prose will be. Wherever you can replace an adverb with a strong verb, your writing will likely be stronger. Then, take a walk through the entire alphabet of verbs by moving on to explore verbs that start with "e," and see how many new additions you can add to your vocabulary bank. Or, if you'd rather go beyond verbs to other parts of speech, stick with the letter "d" for a while. You can discover even more words that start with "d" on WordFinder by YourDictionary. Either way, you'll be well on your way to developing strong language arts skills.