Verbs That Start With O

Updated August 16, 2021
Verbs That Start With O
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    Verbs That Start With O
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Did you obliterate last night’s creative writing homework assignment? That’s fabulous! The more you sense you have a knack for writing, the more you should explore it. One of the best ways to optimize your love of writing is to build an extensive vocabulary list. As you read, write and explore new activities, jot down the words that jump off the page at you. Let’s kick things off right now with 50 verbs that start with "o."

50 Verbs Starting With O

From obscure to obfuscate, explore 50 tantalizing verbs that start with the letter "o."

VerbDefinition
obeyto carry out given orders
obfuscateto confuse someone or to obscure the meaning of something
objectto reason or argue against something
objectifyto regard someone superficially or treat in a depersonalized way
obligateto bind by a duty, promise, or contract
obligeto compel, force, or obligate someone to do something by force
obliterateto utterly and completely destroy or eliminate
obscureto make confusing or hard to see
observeto see or watch
obsessto think about someone or something to an extreme extent
obstructto block or cut off from view
obtainto get or acquire
occurto happen
offendto do something to hurt the feelings of someone
offerto put forth for acceptance or rejection
ogleto stare in a way that shows a desire
oilto grease something, making it slippery or smooth
oinkto grunt like a pig
omitto leave something out
oozeto leak slowly
opento make no longer closed or fastened
operateto perform a function or medical procedure
opineto share your thoughts or opinions
opposeto disapprove of or be against something
oppressto keep something down using cruel or unjust power
optto make a decision or choice
optimizeto make something the best it can be
orbitto move around something in a circle
orchestrateto coordinate or arrange something to achieve a desired result
ordainto order or decree
orderto command or ask someone to do something
organizeto arrange in an orderly way
orientto align or position something toward a particular point or reference
orientateto adjust to a situation
originateto cause something to start
oustto get rid of someone or something
outgrowto grow too large for something
outlineto summarize the main points of something
outsmartto overcome someone by cunning or cleverness
outsourceto obtain goods or services from a foreign supplier instead of a local source
overaweto overcome or subdue by inspiring awe
overcometo prevail in spite of adversity
overcookto cook something for too long or at too high of a temperature
overflowto flow or run over the top
overhaulto examine and make necessary repairs
overloadto put too great a load in or on
overpowerto dominate because of superior or excessive strength
overrateto rate, assess, or estimate too highly
oweto have a debt to pay
oxidizeto unite with oxygen, as in burning or rusting

Example Sentences With O-Verbs

There were some interesting "o" verbs in that list. Let’s look at some of them in action.

  1. I don’t object to you marrying him.
  2. The new building is going to obscure our view of the sea.
  3. I hope this isn’t going to offend you.
  4. Let’s omit that part from the e-mail.
  5. Do you oppose my recommendation?
  6. How can we optimize our time here?
  7. I love to organize my desk.
  8. Allow me to outline her speech for you.
  9. He loves to overcome obstacles and achieve greatness.
  10. Don’t overload the washing machine with sheets and towels.

Different Types of Verbs

Verbs are the part of speech used to express action or describe a state of being. In English, verbs typically come after the subject of the sentence and before the object of the sentence. For example, "Charles obsesses over his stamp collection." In this sentence, "Charles" is the subject, "obsesses" is the verb showing action and "stamp collection" is the object receiving the action of the verb. However, not all verbs are created equal.

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Action Verbs

The most common category of verbs that you'll find is action verbs. Also known as dynamic verbs, action verbs are used to describe the action of the sentence. This can be physical, mental or even symbolic. For example, "She could obtain any type of theater ticket." Here's a more thorough list of action verb examples to study.

Linking Verbs

Next to action verbs, you'll also find linking verbs. These are typically "to be" verbs, like "am," "is," "are," "was," and "were." They link the subject with more information. For example, "She owes him."

Regular and Irregular Verbs

You should also familiarize yourself with the difference between regular and irregular verbs.

  • Regular verbs change from present tense to past tense by simply adding the -ed suffix to the end of them. For example, "She didn’t offer me a cookie. Rather, she offered me some pie."
  • Irregular verbs, on the other hand, do not adhere to this simple rule and conjugate differently. Here’s an example: "His flashy car didn’t overtake me. Rather, the stench of his cologne overtook me."

The best way to familiarize yourself with irregular verbs is to memorize them. Be sure to review this list of irregular verbs to commit some of the most popular ones to memory as well.

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Overt Objectivity

Verbs aren't the only options for "o" words. Keep on learning more terms that begin with this letter using the list of words that start with "o." Objectivity — that’s the name of the writing game, isn’t it? When we choose to undertake the task of writing, we must remain objective, as our prose oozes with interest and insight. How about even more new additions to your extensive vocabulary list? Let’s go with another vowel that packs a strong punch. Enjoy these verbs that start with "p."