Meaning & use
verve
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Meaning
noununcountableformal
Great energy, enthusiasm, and spirit, especially in a creative or artistic performance.
Grammar: No plural; often after with or full of, and stronger than simple energy.
Patterns
- with verve
- full of verve
- perform with verve
The actors played the farce with enormous verve.
Her essay has verve, clarity, and a surprising ending.
Common combinations
- with verve
- The choir sang the final verse with verve.
- full of verve
- The opening scene is full of verve and color.
- perform with verve
- Young dancers perform with verve even when the steps are simple.
- verve and wit
- The speech combined verve and wit without becoming cruel.
Synonyms and how they differ
- energy
- Energy is general physical or mental power; verve is lively expressive sparkle.
- vivacity
- Vivacity suggests cheerful animation, often in a person; verve fits performance and style.
- panache
- Panache adds confident flair or showiness; verve stresses spirited energy.
- enthusiasm
- Enthusiasm is eager feeling; verve is that feeling turned into vivid expression.
Opposites
Commonly confused: verve or verb? verve or nerve?
verve vs verb
Verb is a grammar word; verve is an uncountable noun for lively spirit.
verve vs nerve
Nerve can mean courage or boldness; verve means enthusiastic creative energy, not bravery.
Practice
The dancers performed with such ___ that the audience cheered before the music ended.
Choose one answer.
Verve means lively, spirited energy in performance. Apathy and drowsiness are near-opposites, and caution would not naturally earn cheers.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “verve”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.