main verb

American  

noun

1. a word used as the final verb in a verb phrase, expressing the lexical meaning of the verb phrase, as drink in I don't drink, going in I am going, or spoken in We have spoken.

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Compare meaning

How does main-verb compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• main verb vs. helping verb

Example Sentences

What he wanted to change was the main verb, “opiewać” in Polish.

From Washington Post • Feb. 23, 2023

The main verb, “disassembling,” registers more gently than, say “tearing down,” and is echoed by “heartwarming.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 2, 2021

The subject of the main verb is “detection,” not “traces” or “chemicals.”

From New York Times • May 26, 2015

That the main verb, "reminds," is used intransitively compounds the feeling of dislocation.

From The Guardian • Oct. 25, 2010

Indeed, the spot in front of the main verb is often the most natural resting place for an adverb.

From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker