Verve Meaning and Definition

Pronunciation

/ˈvɜːrv/ 🔊

Part of Speech

Noun, Verbs, or Adjective

Definition

a quality of vigor, liveliness, and enthusiasm, often used to describe music, art, or performance.

Examples

• The band’s music showed a lot of verve, getting the crowd moving.
• Her artwork had a certain verve to it, capturing the energy of the city.

Synonyms

• Zeal
• Passion
• Energy

Antonyms

• Lethargy
• Apathy
• Indifference

Etymology

The word “Verve” comes from the Old French word “verve”, meaning “strength” or “power”, and is derived from the Latin word “verbum”, meaning “word” or “speech”.

Usage Notes

Verve can be used as a noun or adjective to describe something that shows enthusiasm, energy, and vitality. It can also be used to describe music, art, or performance that has a high level of passion and emotion.

Cultural References

Verve has been used as a term in various music genres, including jazz and blues, to describe the high level of energy and enthusiasm displayed by musicians.

Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases

“Verve is a certain something that makes a piece of music, an artwork, or a performance memorable.”.

Related Words or Phrases

• Energy
• Passion
• Zest

Collocations

• Verve and creativity
• Verve and energy
• Verve and passion

Frequency of Use

Verve is a relatively rare word, but it is gaining popularity in recent years, especially in the context of music and art.

Common Misspellings

Misspellings of Verve include “Verbe”, “Verbu”, and “Verse”.