Verbs Starting With J

April 10, 2023

Verbs are essential for putting our thoughts and ideas into writing form. They allow us to express our innermost ideas, emotions, and sentiments with others. In this article, you’ll learn verbs starting with J, including regular verbs, positive words, and action verbs.

Related:

Adjectives that start with J

Table of Contents

Common J Verbs

Photo showing some common verbs starting with J.

This list of J verbs is common in daily conversations. They can be about various tasks or action words and remarks that you have with your best friend. Here are some of the most common J verbs:

Joke: Everyone loves a good joke, and we use the verb “joke” to describe the act of telling a funny story or making a witty remark or quip to make someone laugh.
Jape: This verb also means to crack a joke. Some of its popular synonyms include pun and banter. You can also use the word “kid.”
Juice: This can have different meanings, but the most common usage is extracting liquid from fruits or vegetables. We often use it in the context of making fresh juice.
Jog: To jog means to run at a steady and gentle pace. It’s a popular exercise that many people enjoy to keep fit.
Jab: is commonly used in boxing, referring to a quick, sharp punch or thrust. We also use it in other contexts, such as poking or prodding someone with a finger.
Jabber: This word means to chatter or to talk quickly.
Jot: When we jot something down, we quickly write it down, often in a shorthand form, to remember it later. It’s a valuable skill to have when taking notes.
Jump: If you take a leap or hop off the ground, you are jumping.
Jump-start: It means to start something quickly or boost it, often in the context of a car’s battery or an electronic device that needs a jolt to start functioning.
Juggle: We use it when discussing keeping multiple things in the air simultaneously, such as juggling balls or managing several tasks at work.
Jive: This has different meanings, but it’s often used to describe dancing to jazz music or talking in an insincere or exaggerated manner.
Jolt: To jolt means to give something or someone a sudden, sharp shock or push, such as when you hit a pothole in the road while driving.
Jitter: If you are acting nervously, you are jittering. Another word that you can use is quiver.
Jinx: This word means to bring bad luck or a curse.
Jam: When musicians come together to create music, they “jam.”
Joint: If you are fastening something using joints, you can use the verb “joint.” Another definition of “joint” is to cut meat into joints. For instance, The butcher used a sharp knife to joint the chicken.

Verbs Starting With J You Seldom Use

Jest: This means to tell a joke or make a witty remark in a playful or teasing manner.
Jeer: When we jeer at someone, we make fun of them or taunt them in a mean-spirited way. Some synonyms that you can use include tease and ridicule.
Jumble: We use this verb when things are mixed up or disordered, such as when clothes are jumbled in a drawer or when we mix up our words while speaking.
Jostle: This means to bump or push someone or something, often accidentally, in a crowded or busy area.
Joust: Jousting is an old-fashioned sport where knights on horses try to knock each other off with long sticks. We use the verb more generally to describe any competition or conflict.
Jag: When talking about someone with too much to drink, we might use the verb “jag” to describe their behavior as erratic or unpredictable.
Jut: To jut means to stick out or extend beyond something else, such as a rock jutting out of the ground or a building with a jutting roofline.
Judder: If something is shaking and vibrating rapidly, you’ll use the J verb “judder.” This word can also mean wobble.
Jimmy: Jimmy is not only a noun but also a verb that means to force something open. For instance, The thief jimmied the front door.

Positive Verbs Starting With J

Jam: This means packing something tightly together, such as making a sandwich or filling a jar with fruit preserves. We can also use it metaphorically to describe a situation where things are closely packed together.
Jingle: We often use this verb when talking about bells or coins making a tinkling sound. It’s also commonly used in advertising when catchy jingles promote a product.
Jig: This is often associated with dancing or moving lively and energetically. It can also mean moving up and down quickly or cutting something into small pieces with a quick, repetitive motion.
Jape: When we jape, we joke or mock in a playful and light-hearted way.
Jaunce: This is not very common, but it means to walk or run with a lively and springy step, often playful or carefree.
Joy: This describes feelings of happiness, pleasure, or delight. We often use it in the context of enjoying something or someone’s company.
Joyride: When you take a leisurely cruise or have an enjoyable ride on a motor vehicle without a specific destination, you use the verb joyride.
Join: This means to connect or unite two or more things together, often in a physical sense. It can also be used more abstractly to describe bringing people or groups together.
Jazz: This describes adding excitement or energy to something, such as a party or a conversation. We often use it to add musical jazz elements to a piece.
Jiggle: This means to shake or vibrate quickly and lightly, often in a playful or teasing manner. For instance, you might jiggle a loose door handle to ensure it’s locked.
Jockey: As a verb, jockey means skillfully handling or manipulating something. It can also mean struggling to achieve something.