Verbs Starting with “T”

Full List

Tab: To mark or designate with a tab or label. To choose or appoint.

• The manager tabbed her as the next team leader.
• He tabbed the folder with colored labels for easier reference.

Tack: To attach with tacks or a pin. To change course, especially in sailing.

• She tacked the poster to the wall.
• The boat tacked sharply to catch the wind.

Tackle: To confront or take on a challenge. To bring someone down in sports by grabbing or knocking them.

• They tackled the project with determination.
• The defender tackled the striker before he could score.

Tail: To follow or trail secretly. To move behind something in a line.

• The detective tailed the suspect through the alley.
• The children tailed behind their teacher on the trip.

Taint: To contaminate or spoil. To affect negatively or corrupt.

• The water supply was tainted by chemicals.
• His reputation was tainted by scandal.

Take: To grasp or capture. To accept or receive.

• Please take this package upstairs.
• She took the news calmly.

Talk: To speak in order to express thoughts. To negotiate or discuss.

• They talked about their future plans.
• The leaders talked to resolve the crisis.

Tame: To domesticate or make less wild. To control or reduce intensity.

• She tamed the wild horse with patience.
• He tried to tame his anger before speaking.

Tangle: To twist or knot together. To become involved in a messy situation.

• The wires tangled under the desk.
• He got tangled in legal troubles.

Tap: To strike lightly. To draw or take from a source.

• She tapped on the door before entering.
• The company tapped into new markets overseas.

Target: To aim at something. To focus on a particular group or objective.

• The ad campaign targeted young adults.
• The missile targeted the enemy base.

Tarnish: To lose luster, especially on metal. To damage someone’s reputation.

• The silverware tarnished after being left out.
• His lies tarnished his credibility.

Taste: To perceive flavor. To sample or try.

• She tasted the soup to check the seasoning.
• He tasted success after years of hard work.

Taunt: To provoke or mock with insults.

• The crowd taunted the losing team.

Tax: To impose a financial charge. To burden or strain.

• The government taxed luxury goods heavily.
• The long journey taxed his endurance.

Teach: To instruct or impart knowledge. To show by example.

• She teaches math at the local school.
• His actions taught me the value of honesty.

Team: To join or associate with others.

• They teamed up to complete the project.

Tear: To rip or pull apart. To move quickly.

• He tore the letter into pieces.
• The car tore down the highway.

Tease: To make fun of or provoke playfully. To tantalize by showing but withholding.

• The kids teased each other on the playground.
• The commercial teased the product without revealing much.

Telephone: To communicate by telephone.

• She telephoned her friend to share the news.

Tell: To say or narrate. To inform or reveal.

• He told her a funny story.
• She told the truth about what happened.

Temper: To moderate or soften. To strengthen metal through heating and cooling.

• She tempered her criticism with kindness.
• The blacksmith tempered the blade in cold water.

Tempt: To entice or lure. To provoke someone into doing something unwise.

• The aroma tempted him into buying the cake.
• He was tempted to skip work and stay home.

Tend: To take care of or look after. To be inclined toward.

• She tends the garden every morning.
• He tends to worry too much.

Terminate: To bring to an end. To dismiss from employment.

• The contract was terminated early.
• The company terminated five employees.

Terrify: To frighten intensely.

• The loud thunder terrified the children.

Test: To examine or assess. To try the quality or performance of something.

• The doctor tested her reflexes.
• They tested the new software before launch.

Thank: To express gratitude.

• She thanked him for his help.

Thaw: To melt after freezing. To become more relaxed or friendly.

• The ice thawed under the sun.
• The tense atmosphere thawed after the joke.

Theorize: To form or propose a theory.

• Scientists theorized about the planet’s origins.

Think: To form ideas or opinions. To consider or reflect.

• I think this plan will work.
• She thought deeply about the problem.

Threaten: To express intent to cause harm. To be likely to happen in a harmful way.

• The storm threatened to destroy crops.
• He threatened to call the police.

Thrill: To excite intensely. To cause shivering or trembling.

• The roller coaster thrilled the riders.
• The music thrilled her with emotion.

Thrive: To prosper or flourish. To grow vigorously.

• The business thrived in the new location.
• The plants thrived with plenty of sunlight.

Throw: To hurl through the air. To cause confusion or disorder.

• He threw the ball across the yard.
• The question threw her off balance.

Thrust: To push forcefully. To insert quickly.

• He thrust the sword into the ground.
• She thrust the letter into his hands.

Thumb: To press or flip with the thumb. To hitchhike by signaling with the thumb.

• She thumbed through the book.
• They thumbed a ride to the city.

Thump: To hit heavily. To beat or pound loudly.

• He thumped the table in anger.
• Her heart thumped with excitement.

Tie: To fasten with string or rope. To equal in score.

• She tied her shoelaces tightly.
• The teams tied in the final game.

Tighten: To make tight. To become more strict or firm.

• He tightened the bolts on the chair.
• The company tightened security rules.

Tilt: To lean or slant. To move in favor of something.

• The painting tilted slightly on the wall.
• The vote tilted toward approval.

Time: To measure or set duration. To schedule an event.

• The runner timed his sprint perfectly.
• She timed the meeting for 3 PM.

Tip: To give a gratuity. To tilt or overturn.

• He tipped the waiter generously.
• The chair tipped over suddenly.

Tire: To exhaust or cause fatigue. To lose interest.

• The long hike tired them out.
• He tired of the endless complaints.

Tolerate: To accept or endure. To allow the existence of.

• She tolerated the noise from the construction site.
• The school doesn’t tolerate bullying.

Top: To be higher than or exceed. To cover or finish with something on top.

• The singer topped the charts this week.
• She topped the cake with strawberries.

Torment: To cause severe suffering. To annoy persistently.

• Memories of failure tormented him.
• The children tormented their babysitter with pranks.

Toss: To throw lightly. To mix or shake.

• He tossed the keys onto the table.
• She tossed the salad with dressing.

Touch: To come into contact with. To affect emotionally.

• She touched the fabric to feel its softness.
• The story touched everyone in the audience.

Transform: To change completely in form or appearance.

• The city transformed into a cultural hub.
• The caterpillar transformed into a butterfly.