26 Verbs That Start With "O"
26 curated verbs that start with "O".
Below are 26 verbs that start with "O" in our curated English dictionary. Each entry includes a learner-friendly definition, IPA pronunciation, CEFR difficulty level, and example sentences. Words are sorted by frequency — the most common first. Click any word to view its full dictionary entry with synonyms, collocations, and common mistakes.
Most Common Verbs That Start With "O" (Top 1k)
Less Common Verbs That Start With "O" (Top 5k+)
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Occur /əˈkɜːr/verb A2
When something happens at a particular time.
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Offer /ˈɔːfər/verb A2
Give or propose something to someone; ask if they want it.
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Observe /əbˈzɜːv/verb B1
To watch and notice something carefully.
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Obtain /əbˈteɪn/verb B1
To get or receive something that you want or need.
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Occupy /ˈɑːkjupaɪ/verb A2
To live in a place or to take up someone's time or thoughts.
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Offshore /ˌɔːfˈʃɔːr/verb B2
When a company moves its work or factory to another country, usually to save money or find new customers.
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Operate /ˈɑpəreɪt/verb B1
To make something work or function; to use or run a machine or device.
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Oppose /əˈpoʊz/verb B1
To disagree with something; to try to stop or prevent something from happening.
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Optimize /ˈɒptɪmaɪz/verb B2
To make something work as well as possible by improving it. You optimize processes, costs, or performance to get the best results.
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Overcome /ˌoʊvərˈkʌm/verb B1
To succeed in handling something hard or beat a problem.
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Overdo /ˌoʊvərˈduː/verb B1
To do something too much or work too hard beyond what is necessary.
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Oversee /ˌoʊ.vərˈsiː/verb C1
to be responsible for checking that work is done correctly and properly managing people or tasks
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Obfuscate /əbˈfʌskeɪt/verb C2
To deliberately make something confusing or hard to understand on purpose. Often used when someone hides the truth or makes things unclear intentionally.
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Obstruct /əbˈstrʌkt/verb C1
To block something or prevent it from moving forward. Like putting something in the way.
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Onboard /ˌɒnˈbɔːrd/verb C1
To help a new employee learn how the company works, meet the team, and get ready to do their job. A company onboards new staff through training and orientation.
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Oscillate /ˈɑːsɪleɪt/verb C2
To swing or move back and forth in a regular pattern, like a pendulum. Can also mean to go back and forth between two ideas or positions.
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Ostracise /ˈɒstrəsaɪz/verb C2
To deliberately leave someone out or push them away from a group because they are not accepted or approved of.
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Outsource /ˈaʊtˌsɔːrs/verb B2
To hire someone outside your company to do work instead of doing it yourself. Many companies outsource tasks to cut costs or get specialized expertise.
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Overhaul /ˌoʊvərˈhɔːl/verb C1
To completely check something, fix what is broken, and make it work much better. To renovate or completely redesign something.
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Overlook /ˌoʊvərˈlʊk/verb B2
To not notice something by accident, or to purposely choose to ignore it. You miss it or let it pass without attention.
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Overthrow /ˌoʊvərˈθroʊ/verb C1
To remove a leader or government from power, usually by force or revolution. Can also mean to knock something over.
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Overwhelm /ˌoʊvərˈwɛlm/verb B2
To be completely covered or buried by something; or to have such strong feelings that you cannot handle them. When something is too much to deal with.
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Oust /aʊst/verb C2
To force someone to leave their job or position of power. Usually used for leaders, politicians, or officials.
How to Use Verbs That Start With "O"
Verbs that start with "O" carry the action of a sentence. For each verb, check the dictionary entry to learn its conjugation pattern — most English verbs are regular (add "-ed" for past tense), but some are irregular and must be memorised individually. Pair the verb with the right tense for the situation: present simple for habits and facts, past simple for completed actions, present perfect for life experience, and present continuous for actions happening now.
Longest Verb That Start With "O"
To deliberately make something confusing or hard to understand on purpose. Often used when someone hides the truth or makes things unclear intentionally.
Frequently Asked Questions About Verbs That Start With "O"
- How many verbs that start with "O"?
- Our curated dictionary lists 26 verbs that start with "O", each with a definition, IPA, CEFR level, and example sentences. The list grows as new entries are reviewed.
- What are the most common verbs that start with "O"?
- Some of the most frequent verbs that start with "O" include ORGANIZE, OWE, OWN. These appear in everyday English and are useful for both beginners (A1-A2) and intermediate learners.
- What is verb?
- A verb is a word that expresses an action, occurrence, or state of being. Verbs change form to indicate tense, person, and number.
- What is the longest verb that start with "O"?
- The longest verb that start with "O" in our dictionary is "OBFUSCATE" (9 letters). Tap the word to see its full entry.