Verve definition

vûrv
Exuberant enthusiasm; spirit, dash, etc.
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Energy and enthusiasm in the expression of ideas, especially in artistic performance or composition.

The revival lacked the verve of the original musical.

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Vitality; liveliness.
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Verve is energy or enthusiasm.

An example of verve is the spirit with which a good jazz musician plays an instrument.

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(archaic) Aptitude.
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(archaic) Literary aptitude or talent.
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Vigor and energy, as in movement, portrayal, etc.
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Origin of verve

  • French from Old French fanciful expression probably from Vulgar Latin verva from Latin verba pl. of verbum word wer-5 in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From French verve (“rapture, animation, spirit, caprice, whim")

    From Wiktionary

Verve Sentence Examples

  • The stories, though of no special merit as far as the plots are concerned, are told with verve and interest.

  • Performs Love Creeping Up On You with verve and gusto and a whole truckload of soul.

  • The verve and energy crackles throughout the film and sad moments are deftly handled by both cast and crew.

  • Cracking Up bursts with joyously melodic verve, while Blue Bottle takes a turn through spare acoustic blues melancholia to artfully naïve effect.

  • The remarkable thing about England's performance on Saturday was the attacking verve shown; prompted by Rooney.

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Words near verve in the Dictionary