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verve

American  
[vurv] / vɜrv /

noun

  1. enthusiasm or vigor, as in literary or artistic work; spirit.

    Her latest novel lacks verve.

  2. vivaciousness; liveliness; animation.

    I like a teacher with plenty of verve.

  3. Archaic. talent.

verve British  
/ vɜːv /

noun

  1. great vitality, enthusiasm, and liveliness; sparkle

  2. a rare word for talent

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of verve

1690–1700; < French: enthusiasm, whim, chatter, apparently < Latin verba words, talk, plural (taken in VL as feminine singular) of verbum word; verb

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Whereas Batman had his tragic back story, making him moody and tortured, and Spider-Man had the youthful verve of a kid from Queens, Superman was always kind of a square.

From The Wall Street Journal

Dr. Daniels writes with verve and wit—wry and dry.

From The Wall Street Journal

In 2025, England's attack evolved into something with verve and variety.

From BBC

Mr. Stephens writes with vigor and verve, and he refrains from flaunting the expertise he clearly possesses.

From The Wall Street Journal

Stokes has also had a mixed tour as skipper, lacking his trademark tactical verve.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.