verve
Americannoun
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enthusiasm or vigor, as in literary or artistic work; spirit.
Her latest novel lacks verve.
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vivaciousness; liveliness; animation.
I like a teacher with plenty of verve.
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Archaic. talent.
noun
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great vitality, enthusiasm, and liveliness; sparkle
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a rare word for talent
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.
Despite the verve and love each “Rings of Dissent” contributors have in their essays, they don’t romanticize it.
From Los Angeles Times
This is in stark contrast to Butler, who displays all the verve and conviction of a bona fide rock star.
From Los Angeles Times
"The makers of this musical sequel have delivered a film that surpasses last year's box-office smash in verve, ambition and emotional ache."
From BBC
Despite leading the nation to back-to-back Euros, the Scotland boss has often faced criticism for a cautious approach, but his team were full of verve and quality in that 2-0 win back in November 2021.
From BBC
A lively and fluent writer, Mr. Kurlansky, the author of books on the Basques, cod, salt and other subjects, brings the Boston milieu to life with sympathy, verve and dry humor.
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.
