In this post, we’ve made a big list of English verbs that start with J. Each verb comes with a clear meaning and a sentence example, so you can see how to use it.
This guide is great for students, writers, and language learners. Students can learn new words, writers can find better action words, and learners can get better at using the letter J. No matter why you’re here, you’ll find useful verbs to add to your vocabulary. Let’s get started!
Common Verbs that Start with J

Verbs Beginning With “J” and along their Meaning
Below is a complete list of all verbs beginning with “J,” along with their meanings
- jab — to poke or thrust sharply especially with a finger or pointed object
- jabber — to talk rapidly and unintelligibly
- jack — to raise or lift with a jack
- jaculate — to throw or hurl
- jade — to weary or tire
- jag — to cut or tear unevenly
- jail — to imprison or confine in jail
- jam — to squeeze or pack tightly
- japan — to lacquer or varnish with a dark glossy finish
- japanize — to make Japanese in character or style
- jape — to joke or jest
- jar — to vibrate or shake
- jargonize — to speak or write in jargon
- jaundice — to affect with jaundice
- jaunt — to take a short excursion or pleasure trip
- jaw — to talk at length
- jawbone — to try to influence by persuasion rather than force
- jaywalk — to cross a street illegally or carelessly
- jazz — to enliven or excite
- jeer — to mock or taunt derisively
- jell — to congeal or set
- jellify — to turn into jelly
- jeopardize — to put at risk
- jerk — to pull or twist suddenly
- jest — to joke or speak playfully
- jet — to travel by jet aircraft
- jewel — to adorn or equip with jewels
- jib — to refuse to proceed
- jibe — to be in agreement
- jig — to dance a jig
- jiggle — to move or cause to move with slight jerky motions
- jigsaw — to cut with a jigsaw
- jilt — to reject or abandon a lover
- jimmy — to pry open with a short crowbar
- jingle — to make or cause a light ringing sound
- jinx — to bring bad luck to
- jitter — to be nervous or act nervously
- jive — to dance to jazz or swing music
- job — to work at a job
- jockey — to ride a horse in a race
- jog — to run at a slow steady pace
- joggle — to shake or move with a slight jolting motion
- join — to connect or fasten together
- joint — to cut or divide at a joint
- joke — to say something funny
- jolly — to tease or joke with someone
- jolt — to shake or jar abruptly
- josh — to tease or make fun of playfully
- jostle — to push or shove or bump roughly
- jot — to write down briefly or quickly
- jounce — to bounce or move up and down jerkily
- journal — to record in a journal
- journalize — to enter in a journal or diary
- journey — to travel or make a trip
- joust — to engage in combat on horseback with lances
- joy — to rejoice or feel joy
- joypop — to use drugs occasionally or recreationally
- joyride — to take a ride in a stolen vehicle for thrill
- judaize — to conform to or convert to Judaism
- judder — to shake or vibrate violently
- judge — to form an opinion
- jug — to stew or boil meat in a jug
- juggle — to keep objects in the air
- juice — to extract juice from
- juke — to fake or dodge in sports
- julienne — to cut food into thin matchstick strips
- jumar — to climb using a mechanical ascender
- jumble — to mix in a confused mass
- jump — to spring off the ground
- jump-start — to start a vehicle by connecting to another battery
- junk — to discard or throw away
- junket — to go on a pleasure trip or excursion
- jut — to stick out or project
- juxtapose — to place side by side especially for comparison
Common Verbs beginning with J
- join — to connect or fasten together; to become a member
- jump — to spring off the ground; to leap
- judge — to form an opinion; to decide in court
- justify — to show to be right or reasonable
- joke — to say something funny
- jog — to run at a slow steady pace
- jerk — to pull or twist suddenly
- jam — to squeeze or pack tightly; to become stuck
- jail — to imprison or confine
- jolt — to shake or jar abruptly
- jot — to write down briefly or quickly
- jingle — to make a light ringing sound
- jiggle — to move with slight jerky motions
- jostle — to push or bump roughly
- jab — to poke or thrust sharply
- jabber — to talk rapidly and unintelligibly
- jaw — to talk at length
- jaywalk — to cross a street illegally or carelessly
- jeer — to mock or taunt derisively
- jell — to congeal or set
- jeopardize — to put at risk
- jest — to joke or speak playfully
- jet — to travel by jet aircraft
- jilt — to reject or abandon a lover
- jinx — to bring bad luck to
- jockey — to maneuver for advantage
- josh — to tease or make fun of playfully
- juggle — to keep objects in the air; to manipulate
- jumble — to mix in a confused mass
- junk — to discard or throw away
Action Verbs Starting with J
- jab — to poke or thrust sharply with a finger or pointed object
- jabber — to talk rapidly and unintelligibly
- jack — to raise or lift with a jack
- jail — to imprison or confine
- jam — to squeeze or pack tightly
- jangle — to make a harsh ringing sound
- jar — to shake or vibrate
- jaw — to talk at length
- jaywalk — to cross a street illegally
- jazz — to enliven or excite
- jeer — to mock or taunt derisively
- jell — to congeal or set
- jerk — to pull or twist suddenly
- jest — to joke or speak playfully
- jet — to travel by jet aircraft
- jig — to dance a jig
- jiggle — to move with slight jerky motions
- jilt — to reject or abandon a lover
- jingle — to make a light ringing sound
- jinx — to bring bad luck to
- jive — to dance to jazz or swing music
- jog — to run at a slow steady pace
- join — to connect or fasten together
- joke — to say something funny
- jolt — to shake or jar abruptly
- jostle — to push or bump roughly
- jot — to write down quickly
- judge — to form an opinion
- juggle — to keep objects in the air
- jump — to spring off the ground
Phrasal Verbs that Start with J
- Jack up — To increase something
- Jam on — To put something on quickly
- Jam out — To play music enthusiastically
- Jam up — To become blocked
- Jerk off — To move or pull something suddenly
- Jerk out — To pull something out suddenly
- Jerk up — To move suddenly upwards
- Jet around — To travel from place to place by plane
- Jet away — To leave quickly by plane
- Jet off — To leave by plane
- Jockey for — To compete for a position or advantage
- Join in — To take part in an activity
- Join together — To connect or unite things
- Join up — To become a member of a group
- Join with — To work together with someone
- Joke around — To say funny things and have fun
- Jot down — To write something quickly
- Jot down on — To write something on a surface
- Juggle around — To rearrange things
- Jump around — To move from place to place
- Jump at — To accept an opportunity eagerly
- Jump back — To move backwards suddenly
- Jump into — To start something quickly
- Jump off — To leap from something
- Jump on — To criticize or attack someone
- Jump out at — To attract someone’s attention
- Jump over — To leap across something
- Jump to — To reach a conclusion quickly
- Jump up — To rise suddenly
- Jump up and down — To repeatedly leap upwards