verve

noun

ˈvərv 

1

a

: the spirit and enthusiasm animating artistic composition or performance : vivacity

b

: energy, vitality

2

archaic : special ability or talent

Synonyms

• beans
• bounce
• brio
• dash
• drive
• dynamism
• energy
• esprit
• gas
• get-up-and-go
• ginger
• go
• gusto
• hardihood
• juice
• life
• moxie
• oomph
• pep
• punch
• sap
• snap
• starch
• vigor
• vim
• vinegar
• vitality
• zing
• zip

Examples of verve in a Sentence

She played with skill and verve.

Recent Examples on the Web

Giorgetto Giugiaro, Bertone’s prolific designer, poured some of his best styling cues into the tidy GT, which expresses the verve of his earlier Alfa Romeo 2600 Sprint and Iso Rivolta models, but in a smaller car for the sporting masses. —Robert Ross, Robb Report, 11 Oct. 2024

Farrell’s Oz, by contrast, is a cartoon — albeit a loveable one, infused with pathos and verve by the actor and painted with truly impressive makeup by Michael Marino. —Christian Holub, EW.com, 12 Sep. 2024

That’s also the name of the real-life West Belfast outfit whose origin story — juiced for maximum political energy and comedic verve by writer-director Rich Peppiatt — makes for a tub-thumping, fist-pumping good time. —Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 2 Aug. 2024

And yet even this problem should have been surmountable, especially with Gaga's titanic talent — a song delivered and staged with verve, panache and wit can bloom in the nastiest of scenarios. —Tom Gliatto, People.com, 3 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

French, from Middle French, caprice, from Old French, word, gossip, from Vulgar Latin *verva, from Latin verba, plural of verbum word — more at word

First Known Use

1697, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

verve

noun

ˈvərv 

: lively enthusiasm