Verbs are the powerhouse of language, driving sentences forward and breathing life into communication. They show us that actions are happening—someone is helping, hoping, or hurrying. For those looking to expand their vocabulary, discovering verbs that start with h offers a rich selection of dynamic expressions. In this blog post, we’ll explore 50 common “h” verbs, complete with meanings and synonyms. Dive in, and let these verbs that start with “h” add depth and variety to your vocabulary!
Verb | Meaning | Example Sentence |
---|---|---|
Hail | To greet or call out to | She hailed the taxi from across the street. |
Halt | To stop or bring to a standstill | The conductor halted the train due to a signal error. |
Handle | To manage or take control of | He can handle complex problems with ease. |
Hang | To suspend or attach | We decided to hang the artwork in the hallway. |
Harass | To bother repeatedly | The birds harassed the cat until it ran away. |
Harden | To make firm or more resilient | The clay will harden after a few hours in the sun. |
Harm | To cause injury or damage | Avoid touching that plant—it could harm your skin. |
Harvest | To gather crops or resources | They worked hard to harvest the ripe tomatoes. |
Hate | To feel intense dislike for | He hates waiting in long lines. |
Haunt | To frequently visit or linger in mind | The thought of the mistake continued to haunt her. |
Heal | To restore health or well-being | The doctor said the wound would heal in a few weeks. |
Heap | To pile or accumulate | They heaped soil around the base of the tree. |
Hear | To perceive sound | She could hear laughter coming from the next room. |
Heed | To pay attention or take notice | He should heed his teacher’s advice to study more. |
Help | To assist or support | Volunteers came to help clean up the park. |
Hesitate | To pause due to uncertainty | Don’t hesitate to ask questions if you have any. |
Hide | To keep out of sight | She decided to hide the gift until his birthday. |
Hijack | To seize control | The hacker attempted to hijack the network. |
Hint | To suggest subtly | He tried to hint at his feelings without saying much. |
Hire | To employ or rent | They decided to hire a chef for the event. |
Hitch | To fasten or attach | She hitched the cart to the back of the bike. |
Hoard | To collect and store excessively | Some people tend to hoard old magazines and books. |
Hold | To grasp or keep | He had to hold the door open for everyone. |
Hollow | To make empty or concave | The wind hollowed out spaces in the sand dunes. |
Honor | To show respect or esteem | The town held a ceremony to honor the war heroes. |
Hook | To attach or catch | She managed to hook the fish with a skilled cast. |
Hoist | To raise or lift | They used a crane to hoist the heavy materials. |
Hop | To jump or leap | The kids love to hop from one rock to another. |
Hope | To desire or wish for | I hope to visit my grandparents next month. |
Host | To organize or provide for | He will host the charity event this year. |
Hover | To remain in one place in the air | The helicopter continued to hover over the field. |
Hug | To embrace tightly | They took a moment to hug before parting ways. |
Hum | To produce a low continuous sound | She likes to hum while doing her chores. |
Hunt | To search or pursue | The team will hunt for clues at the crime scene. |
Hurry | To move quickly | We need to hurry to catch the last train. |
Hurl | To throw forcefully | He could hurl the ball farther than anyone else. |
Hush | To make quiet | The librarian tried to hush the noisy students. |
Hustle | To move energetically | She had to hustle to get everything ready on time. |
Hypnotize | To mesmerize or put in a trance | The rhythmic music seemed to hypnotize the crowd. |
Hijinks | To engage in playful mischief | The kids’ hijinks kept the whole family entertained. |
Highlight | To emphasize or draw attention to | She used a marker to highlight key points in her notes. |
Harness | To control and make use of | The new plant can harness solar energy efficiently. |
Harmonize | To bring into harmony | The choir worked hard to harmonize their voices. |
Head | To move in a specific direction | They’ll head toward the mountains for the weekend. |
Heap | To load generously | She heaped compliments on the team for their success. |
Herald | To announce or signal | The dawn’s light heralded a beautiful new day. |
Hike | To go on a long walk | They plan to hike the trail in the early morning. |
Hinder | To obstruct or delay | Bad weather could hinder the construction project. |
Hostage | To hold captive | The robbers took the banker hostage during the heist. |
Hover | To linger in one place | The plane seemed to hover above the cityscape. |
Humiliate | To shame or degrade | He didn’t want to humiliate his friend in public. |
Hypothesize | To make an educated guess | Scientists hypothesize about causes before testing. |
Classification of Verbs
In any sentence, verbs are the dynamic elements, linking thoughts, actions, or states of being to bring language to life. For example, in the sentence:
“Helen hikes up the hill,”
“Helen” is the subject, “hikes” is the verb, and “hill” is the direct object. While verbs often convey action, there are several types that fulfill unique roles in sentences.
- Action Verbs
Action verbs are straightforward—they show physical or mental actions. Words like haul and hike are action verbs because they demonstrate a specific act being carried out. These verbs bring motion or activity to the subject of a sentence. For instance, “Helen hikes up the hill” uses the action verb “hikes” to show exactly what Helen is doing. - Helping Verbs
These verbs assist the main verb, adding depth to its meaning. In the phrase “Helen is hiking,” the word “is” functions as a helping verb, supporting the main action verb “hiking” by indicating the tense and continuity of the action. Helping verbs work together with action verbs to clarify time, condition, or emphasis in a sentence. - Linking Verbs
Unlike action verbs, linking verbs don’t display an action. Instead, they link the subject to additional information or descriptions. Common linking verbs include forms of “to be,” such as is, am, and are. For instance, in the sentence, “Helen is happy,” the verb “is” connects Helen to the adjective “happy,” giving more detail about her state of being. - Modal Verbs
Modal verbs add nuances of possibility, necessity, or permission. Examples include can, may, must, and should. For instance, in “Helen must hike every day,” the modal verb “must” conveys a sense of obligation. These verbs don’t act alone but adjust the main verb’s meaning, making statements more flexible or precise.
You can also read: Verbs That Start With E: Expanding Your Vocabulary with Dynamic Action Words
20 Example Sentences of Verbs With H
Here are 20 Verbs that start With H in action:
- Hurl – “In a fit of anger, he hurled the backpack onto the floor with all his might.”
- Hammer – “The construction team hammered away at the framework all morning.”
- Haul – “Before departing, they hauled the fishing equipment aboard the vessel with great effort.”
- Hasten – “In a rush, she hastened her steps to arrive on time.”
- Hike – “They hiked up the steep trail, eager to reach the summit before noon.”
- Hover – “The drone hovered a few feet above the ground, taking aerial photos of the landscape.”
- Hug –”At the end of a tiring day, he gave his daughter a warm hug as she rushed into his arms.”
- Hop – “The rabbit hopped through the garden, stopping occasionally to nibble on grass.”
- Hunt – “Every autumn, the family hunts for the best pumpkins in the patch.”
- Hurl – “She hurled her worries aside, focusing on the task at hand.”
- Hack – “They hacked at the thick ice with their tools, aiming to make a hole for their fishing line.”
- Hoist – “The crew hoisted the sails, eager to catch the wind.”
- Huddle – “During the storm, the students huddled close, exchanging stories to keep their spirits up.”
- Hustle – “He hustled to finish the project before the deadline.”
- Harass – “The constant rain started to harass their plans for the outdoor event.”
- Hail – “As the bus approached, she hailed it with a wave of her hand.”
- Hitch –”He managed to hitch a ride with a friend, saving him the drive to the concert.”
- Hoard – “She hoarded vintage coins, carefully storing each one to build her unique collection.”
- Halt – “The sudden noise caused everyone to halt in their tracks.”
- Hurdle – “During the race, she hurdled the barriers with surprising agility.”
Conclusion
Exploring the world of verbs that start with H offers a rich variety of expressive and action-driven words to add to your vocabulary. Whether it’s verbs that show movement, like hustle and hike, or those that convey connection, such as help and harmonize, these words can bring new life to everyday language. Next time you’re crafting a sentence or writing creatively, consider diving into this dynamic list of “H” verbs to make your writing more vivid and impactful. Keep exploring more verbs, and watch how each one can transform your storytelling and communication!