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

Documentaries have started to ask better questions and depict people with disabilities with verve, wit and no small measure of anger and flaws. —Lisa Kennedy, Variety, 18 Dec. 2024

The result is a visually sensational picture, its dynamic verve seeming to embody the life of natural forms. —Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 9 Dec. 2024

Pro-annexation Israeli hardliners, seemingly bolstered by Trump’s picks, are pushing the idea with new verve. —Rosemary Kelanic, TIME, 17 Dec. 2024

Andy is portrayed with all-singing, all-dancing verve by the frankly inexhaustible Georgie Buckland (impressively making her West End debut), while Nate, a sous-chef, is played with equal all-singing, all-dancing verve by the frankly scrumptious Rhys Whitfield. —Hamish Bowles, Vogue, 6 Dec. 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