Exploring Verbs That Start with J, K, and L

Verbs are the action words of the English language — they bring life and motion to sentences. While many learners are familiar with common verbs like run, eat, or make, it’s also valuable to explore more specific verbs that begin with different letters. In this article, we’ll explore a variety of verbs starting with J, K, and L, each explained with a brief meaning and a sample sentence to reinforce learning.
Verbs Starting with J
Though not as plentiful as other letters, J-verbs still include some expressive and useful terms:
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Jump – To leap or spring into the air.
She jumped over the puddle. -
Joke – To say something funny or teasing.
He joked about his cooking skills. -
Join – To connect or become part of a group.
She joined the chess club at school. -
Judge – To form an opinion or decision.
Don’t judge a book by its cover. -
Juggle – To toss and catch objects or manage many tasks.
He juggles work and parenting very well. -
Jerk – To move suddenly or sharply.
The train jerked forward unexpectedly. -
Jot – To write something down quickly.
I’ll jot down your number. -
Jeer – To mock or speak in a rude way.
Fans jeered at the opposing team. -
Jingle – To make a light, ringing sound.
Her bracelets jingled as she walked. -
Jam – To force something into a tight space or play music.
He jammed the drawer shut.
Verbs Starting with K
Verbs starting with K are fewer in number, but they’re still helpful in expanding your verb knowledge:
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Kick – To strike with the foot.
He kicked the ball into the net. -
Kiss – To touch with the lips as a gesture of love.
She kissed the baby’s forehead. -
Kneel – To rest on one or both knees.
They knelt in prayer. -
Knock – To strike a surface to get attention.
Please knock before entering. -
Know – To be aware of or understand something.
I know the answer to that question. -
Knit – To make fabric using yarn and needles.
She knits scarves every winter. -
Keep – To hold or retain something.
Keep this book safe. -
Kid – To tease playfully.
I’m just kidding! -
Kill – To cause death.
The poison killed the insect. -
Kickstart – To begin or restart something quickly.
They kickstarted the project with a new plan.
Verbs Starting with L
The letter L brings us a wide range of useful action words:
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Laugh – To make sounds showing amusement.
She laughed at the joke. -
Learn – To gain knowledge or skill.
He learned to drive last year. -
Lift – To raise or move something upward.
Can you lift this box for me? -
Listen – To give attention to sound.
Please listen carefully. -
Look – To direct your eyes in a certain direction.
Look at the sky! -
Love – To feel deep affection.
They love their dog dearly. -
Leave – To go away from a place.
She left the party early. -
Lie – To recline or to tell an untruth.
He lay on the couch. / Don’t lie to me. -
Lend – To give temporarily.
Can you lend me a pen? -
Lead – To guide or direct.
He led the team to victory.
Conclusion
Verbs beginning with J, K, and L may not be the most numerous, but they add rich meaning and variety to our communication. Whether you're jotting down ideas, knocking on a door, or leading a group to success, these verbs show how powerful even a single word can be. Understanding these action words helps build better sentences and stronger language skills.