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113 Powerful Verbs That Start With E for Every Use

Writers often struggle with bland, weak verbs that drain energy from their content. Using the same words repeatedly makes writing sound flat and uninspiring.

However, using various verbs that start packs more punch than most people realize. These words can change dull sentences into vibrant, engaging content that grabs attention and holds it tight.

This blog contains a complete list of verbs that start with E.

Each verb comes with its meaning and real examples you can use right away. You’ll also get practical tips on how to use these verbs to make your writing more effective and engaging.

What is a Verb?

A verb is the engine of every sentence. It shows what someone or something does, or describes a state of being.

Think of verbs as the words that bring life to your writing; they tell us about actions like “run,” “write,” or “think,” or they describe conditions like “is,” “seems,” or “becomes.”

There are several types of verbs to know about:

Action verbs describe physical or mental activities, such as “jump” or “consider.”
State verbs describe conditions or feelings, like “exist” or “believe.”
You’ll also find transitive verbs, which need an object to complete their meaning (“She threw the ball”), and intransitive verbs, which stand alone (“He laughed”).

Understanding these differences helps writers select the most effective verb for maximum impact.

List of Verbs That Start With E

Now that you understand what verbs are, it’s time to get the complete collection. The following list contains essential verbs that start with E, organized to help you find exactly what you need. Each verb includes its meaning and a practical example to show you how it works in real sentences:

1. Earn

Meaning: To receive payment or compensation for work or services.
Example: He earned a promotion after working hard for several years.

2. Eat

Meaning: To consume food or drink.
Example: She eats lunch at noon every day.

3. Enable

Meaning: To make something possible or give someone the means to do something.
Example: The new software will enable us to work more efficiently.

4. Encourage

Meaning: To give support or confidence to someone.
Example: She encouraged her friend to apply for the job.

5. Enforce

Meaning: To ensure compliance with rules, laws, or regulations.
Example: The police enforced the curfew during the storm.

6. Enter

Meaning: To come or go into a place or space.
Example: He entered the room quietly so as not to disturb anyone.

7. Entertain

Meaning: To provide amusement or enjoyment to others.
Example: They entertained the guests with jokes and music.

8. Estimate

Meaning: To roughly calculate or judge the value, number, or amount of something.
Example: She estimated the project’s cost to be around $500.

9. Examine

Meaning: To inspect or analyze something carefully.
Example: The doctor examined the patient thoroughly before making a diagnosis.

10. Exaggerate

Meaning: To represent something as greater or more important than it is.
Example: He exaggerated his achievements to impress the interviewer.

11. Escape

Meaning: To break free from a place or situation.
Example: The prisoners managed to escape from the high-security prison.

12. Establish

Meaning: To set up or create something with a permanent or lasting presence.
Example: They established a new company last year.

13. Expect

Meaning: To look forward to something happening or arriving.
Example: She expects the package to arrive tomorrow.

14. Explain

Meaning: To make something clear or easy to understand.
Example: The teacher explained the lesson in simple terms.

15. Experience

Meaning: To undergo or feel an event or situation.
Example: She experienced a lot of joy on her wedding day.

16. Eliminate

Meaning: To remove or get rid of something.
Example: The team worked hard to eliminate all the errors in the report.

17. Evolve

Meaning: To gradually develop or change into a more complex or advanced form.
Example: The company’s marketing strategy has evolved over the years.

18. Enrich

Meaning: To improve or enhance the quality or value of something.
Example: Traveling to different countries will enrich your life.

19. Educate

Meaning: To teach or instruct someone in a particular subject or skill.
Example: Schools educate children in a variety of subjects.

20. Excuse

Meaning: To forgive someone for an error or to justify their behavior.
Example: Please excuse my lateness, the traffic was terrible.

21. Evoke

Meaning: To bring a feeling, memory, or image to mind.
Example: The movie evoked memories of my childhood.

22. Engage

Meaning: To involve someone in an activity or conversation.
Example: He engaged the audience with his exciting presentation.

23. Exclude

Meaning: To deliberately leave something or someone out.
Example: They excluded her from the meeting because she was on vacation.

24. Express

Meaning: To convey a thought, feeling, or idea.
Example: He expressed his feelings of frustration in the letter.

25. Expose

Meaning: To reveal something hidden or unknown.
Example: The investigation exposed several corruption scandals.

26. Expand

Meaning: To increase in size, volume, or scope.
Example: The company plans to expand its operations internationally.

27. Emerge

Meaning: To come out or appear from a hidden or obscured position.
Example: A new leader emerged from the crisis.

28. Envision

Meaning: To imagine or visualize something in the future.
Example: She envisioned a world where everyone was equal.

29. Exceed

Meaning: To go beyond a limit or expectation.
Example: His performance exceeded all expectations.

30. Emphasize

Meaning: To give special importance or attention to something.
Example: The teacher emphasized the importance of studying for the exam.

31. Erase

Meaning: To remove something by rubbing, wiping, or deleting.
Example: She erased the mistakes from her notebook with an eraser.

32. Evacuate

Meaning: To move people from a dangerous place to a safer one.
Example: The city ordered everyone to evacuate due to the impending storm.

33. Exchange

Meaning: To give something and receive something in return.
Example: They exchanged gifts during the holiday season.

34. Experiment

Meaning: To try something new in a controlled way to learn or discover.
Example: The scientist experimented with different chemicals to find the best reaction.

35. Exert

Meaning: To put forth effort or energy into something.
Example: She exerted all her energy into finishing the race.

36. Enlist

Meaning: To sign up or recruit someone for a service or task.
Example: He enlisted in the army to serve his country.

37. Exterminate

Meaning: To completely destroy or eliminate something, especially pests.
Example: The company hired a service to exterminate the termites in the house.

38. Excavate

Meaning: To dig or remove earth from an area, usually for an archaeological site.
Example: The archaeologists excavated the ancient ruins carefully.

39. Excite

Meaning: To cause someone to feel strong emotions or enthusiasm.
Example: The news of the concert excited the fans.

40. Extend

Meaning: To make something longer in time or space.
Example: They decided to extend the deadline for the project.

41. Encompass

Meaning: To include or surround something completely.
Example: The book encompasses a wide range of topics.

42. Eradicate

Meaning: To completely eliminate or destroy something.
Example: The disease was eradicated through widespread vaccination.

43. Embellish

Meaning: To make something more attractive by adding details or decorations.
Example: She embellished the dress with intricate beads and sequins.

44. Exhale

Meaning: To breathe out air from the lungs.
Example: He exhaled deeply after a long workout.

45. Equip

Meaning: To supply with the necessary tools, materials, or skills.
Example: The teacher equipped the students with the knowledge needed for the test.

46. Enjoy

Meaning: To take pleasure or satisfaction in something.
Example: She enjoys reading books on weekends.

47. Eject

Meaning: To throw or force something out, especially with force.
Example: The pilot ejected from the plane just before it crashed.

48. Elbow

Meaning: To push or nudge someone or something with your elbow.
Example: He elbowed his way through the crowded street.

49. Evade

Meaning: To escape or avoid something, often through trickery or skill.
Example: He managed to evade the police by taking a shortcut.

50. Elude

Meaning: To escape from someone or something cleverly or difficultly.
Example: The criminal eluded arrest for years.

51. Exemplify

Meaning: To illustrate or clarify something by giving an example.
Example: Her success story exemplifies hard work and perseverance.

52. End

Meaning: To bring something to a conclusion or stop it.
Example: The meeting ended after two hours of discussion.

53. Endorse

Meaning: To publicly support or approve of something or someone.
Example: The celebrity endorsed the new brand of shoes.

54. Emanate

Meaning: To come or flow out from a source.
Example: A sense of calm emanated from the peaceful garden.

55. Extract

Meaning: To remove or take out something from a source.
Example: He extracted the important data from the report.

56. Entangle

Meaning: To twist or involve something in a complicated way.
Example: The vines became entangled around the fence.

57. Enclose

Meaning: To surround or close something in a boundary.
Example: The garden is enclosed by a tall fence.

58. Elaborate

Meaning: To provide more details or develop an idea further.
Example: She elaborated on her plans for the new project.

59. Enquire

Meaning: To ask for information or inquire about something.
Example: He enquired about the availability of tickets for the concert.

60. Erupt

Meaning: To burst forth or explode, especially suddenly or forcefully.
Example: The volcano erupted with a massive explosion.

61. Enrage

Meaning: To make someone very angry.
Example: The unfair decision enraged the players and fans.

62. Emit

Meaning: To send out or release something, typically light, heat, or sound.
Example: The machine emits a high-pitched sound when it operates.

63. Enhance

Meaning: To improve or make something better.
Example: The new software update enhanced the phone’s performance.

64. Exile

Meaning: To banish or expel someone from their home or country.
Example: The king was exiled after his defeat in battle.

65. Empathize

Meaning: To understand and share the feelings of another person.
Example: She empathized with her friend who was going through a tough time.

66. Exult

Meaning: To feel or show great happiness and excitement.
Example: They exulted in their victory after the match.

67. Edit

Meaning: To make changes or corrections to a text or document.
Example: He edited the article to improve clarity and grammar.

68. Elucidate

Meaning: To make something clear or explain it.
Example: The professor elucidated the complex theory during the lecture.

69. Entice

Meaning: To attract or tempt someone to do something.
Example: The advertisement enticed customers with a special offer.

70. Equalize

Meaning: To make something the same or level.
Example: The coach worked to equalize the playing field for both teams.

71. Enact

Meaning: To make something law or put something into action.
Example: The government decided to enact new policies to address climate change.

72. Endure

Meaning: To suffer or tolerate something difficult or unpleasant.
Example: He endured the pain and kept playing in the match.

73. Embody

Meaning: To give physical form to something abstract or represent something.
Example: The actor’s performance embodied the character’s spirit.

74. Expel

Meaning: To force someone to leave a place, often for a rule violation.
Example: The student was expelled for cheating on the exam.

75. Entail

Meaning: To involve something as a necessary part or result.
Example: The job entails long hours and significant responsibility.

76. Extinguish

Meaning: To put out a fire or cause something to stop.
Example: The firefighters extinguished the flames before they spread.

77. Execute

Meaning: To carry out or perform a task or action.
Example: The plan was executed flawlessly, and the event was a success.

78. Engulf

Meaning: To surround or overwhelm something.
Example: The town was engulfed in smoke after the wildfire.

79. Encircle

Meaning: To form a circle around something or surround it.
Example: The police officers encircled the building to contain the situation.

80. Exalt

Meaning: To raise or advance someone or something in status or importance.
Example: The community exalted the hero for his bravery during the crisis.

81. Explode

Meaning: To burst violently or forcefully, often causing damage.
Example: The fireworks exploded in the night sky, lighting it up with color.

82. Engrain

Meaning: To deeply impress something into one’s mind or memory.
Example: The lesson was so impactful it became ingrained in his mind.

83. Exclaim

Meaning: To shout or speak suddenly and loudly, often in surprise or excitement.
Example: “Wow!” she exclaimed after seeing the beautiful view.

84. Encounter

Meaning: To meet someone unexpectedly or face a challenge.
Example: She encountered an old friend while shopping.

85. Exploit

Meaning: To take advantage of a situation or resource for personal gain.
Example: The company exploited the new technology to maximize profits.

86. Entrust

Meaning: To assign responsibility or give someone the task of looking after something.
Example: She entrusted her friend with her secret.

87. Empty

Meaning: To remove all contents from something.
Example: He emptied the bottle into the sink.

88. Entrench

Meaning: To establish something very firmly so that it is difficult to change.
Example: The old traditions were entrenched in the community’s way of life.

89. Elicit

Meaning: To draw out a response or reaction from someone.
Example: The teacher’s question elicited a thoughtful response from the class.

90. Exhort

Meaning: To strongly encourage or urge someone to take action.
Example: The coach exhorted the players to give their best performance.

91. Elongate

Meaning: To make something longer in time or space.
Example: The artist decided to elongate the neck of the figure in the painting.

92. Envelope

Meaning: To surround something, especially in a covering.
Example: Fog enveloped the city early in the morning.

93. Enshroud

Meaning: To cover or hide something completely, often in a mysterious way.
Example: The mountains were enshrouded in mist, making them look eerie.

94. Embolden

Meaning: To give someone the confidence to take action or be bold.
Example: His success emboldened him to try new challenges.

95. Endanger

Meaning: To put something or someone in a situation where there is a risk of harm.
Example: The forest fire endangered many wildlife species.

96. Encase

Meaning: To surround or enclose something completely.
Example: The jewelry was encased in a glass display.

97. Exonerate

Meaning: To clear someone of blame or fault.
Example: New evidence exonerated him of the charges.

98. Enslave

Meaning: To make someone a slave or deprive them of freedom.
Example: The dictator enslaved the population by enforcing strict laws.

99. Enfold

Meaning: To wrap or surround something in a protective or embracing way.
Example: The blanket enfolded her, keeping her warm and cozy.

100. Exempt

Meaning: To free someone from an obligation or rule.
Example: She was exempt from the final exam due to her perfect attendance.

101. Encapsulate

Meaning: To express or summarize the most important aspects of something.
Example: The report encapsulated the key points of the meeting.

102. Encroach

Meaning: To gradually invade or trespass on someone else’s space or rights.
Example: The building’s construction began to encroach on the neighboring park.

103. Erect

Meaning: To build or construct something upright.
Example: Workers erected the new skyscraper in just two years.

104. Employ

Meaning: To hire someone for work or use something for a specific purpose.
Example: The company employs hundreds of people across the nation.

105. Extrapolate

Meaning: To predict or estimate something based on existing data or trends.
Example: Scientists extrapolated the study’s results to predict future outcomes.

106. Evaluate

Meaning: To assess or judge the quality, value, or significance of something.
Example: The committee will evaluate the applicants based on their qualifications.

107. Embarrass

Meaning: To make someone feel self-conscious or ashamed.
Example: His mistake during the presentation embarrassed him in front of the team.

108. Empower

Meaning: To give someone the authority or power to do something.
Example: The new policy empowers employees to make decisions independently.

109. Exasperate

Meaning: To frustrate or annoy someone greatly.
Example: Her constant questions exasperated her colleagues during the meeting.

110. Envisage

Meaning: To imagine or visualize a future event or outcome.
Example: He envisaged a future where technology improved every aspect of life.

111. Endow

Meaning: To provide with a quality, ability, or asset.
Example: The university was endowed with a large donation to fund scholarships.

112. Evince

Meaning: To show or demonstrate a feeling, quality, or characteristic.
Example: His actions evinced a strong sense of responsibility.

113. Exemplify

Meaning: To illustrate or clarify something by providing an example.
Example: His performance exemplifies the dedication and hard work necessary for success.

Using These Verbs to Power Up Your Writing

Getting the most from verbs that start with e requires smart choices and good timing. The right verb can turn a boring sentence into something that grabs attention and sticks with readers.

Match the verb to your tone and audience: Choose formal verbs like “evaluate” or “establish” for professional writing. Pick more expressive options like “exclaim” or “evaluate” for creative content.
Use verbs to show action clearly: Replace weak or vague verbs with strong E-verbs. Instead of “go,” try “exit.” Rather than “make,” use “execute” or “establish.”
Avoid overusing the same verbs: Rotate among different E-verbs to keep your writing fresh. Don’t rely on “explain” in every paragraph when you could use “elaborate,” “expand,” or “express.”
Pair verbs with strong nouns and adjectives: Enhance impact by combining powerful verbs with descriptive words. “Eagerly explore new opportunities” works better than just “explore opportunities.”
Consider verb tense and agreement: Make sure your chosen verb fits grammatically with the subject and tense of your sentence.
Practice using new verbs regularly: Include these verbs in your daily writing and speech to build confidence and expand your vocabulary.

The Bottom Line

These verbs that start with E can change how you communicate.

Each verb offers a chance to make your writing more precise and engaging. Strong verbs help you connect with readers and get your message across clearly.

The key is to incorporate these verbs into your daily writing.

Which verbs that start with e surprised you the most?

Drop a comment below and share your favorites, or let me know if there are other verb lists you’d like to see covered next!

Anthony Robinson

Anthony Robinson has over 20 years of teaching experience and a passion for making learning accessible to everyone. He holds a degree in Education from the University of Michigan. In his free time, Anthony enjoys reading historical novels, playing chess, and volunteering at local schools. His dedication to education shines through in his writing.