Phrase guide

main verb

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

In a clause, the verb with the highest semantic content, contrasted with auxiliary verb.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: grammar, human-sciences, linguistics, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

In a sentence, the main-clause verb with the highest semantic content.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: grammar, human-sciences, linguistics, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

17 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: verb principal — verb in a clause with the highest semantic content
  • Danish: hovedverbum — verb in a clause with the highest semantic content
  • Dutch: hoofdwerkwoord — verb in a clause with the highest semantic content
  • Finnish: pääverbi — verb in a clause with the highest semantic content
  • French: verbe principal — verb in a clause with the highest semantic content
  • German: Hauptverb — verb in a clause with the highest semantic content
  • Hungarian: főige — verb in a clause with the highest semantic content
  • Icelandic: aðalsögn — verb in a clause with the highest semantic content
  • Italian: verbo principale — verb in a clause with the highest semantic content
  • Japanese: 本動詞 (hondōshi) — verb in a clause with the highest semantic content
  • Japanese: 主動詞 (shudōshi) — verb in a clause with the highest semantic content
  • Korean: 본동사 (bondongsa) — verb in a clause with the highest semantic content
  • Norwegian: hovedverb — verb in a clause with the highest semantic content
  • Polish: czasownik leksykalny — verb in a clause with the highest semantic content
  • Portuguese: verbo principal — verb in a clause with the highest semantic content
  • Spanish: verbo principal — verb in a clause with the highest semantic content
  • Swedish: huvudverb — verb in a clause with the highest semantic content