intransitive verb

English

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ɪnˌtɹænsətɪv ˈvɜːb/, /ɪnˌtɹænzətɪv ˈvɜːb/
  • Audio (US):(file)

Noun

intransitive verb (plural intransitive verbs)

  1. (grammar) An action verb which does not take a direct object.
    Synonym: (initialism) VI
    Coordinate terms: transitive verb, ditransitive verb, intradirective verb, labile verb
    In the English language, ‘sleep’ is an intransitive verb.
    • 2003, Toni Morrison, Love, Vintage (2016), page 126:
      “‘Feel’ is an intransitive verb in your sentence and is modified by an adjective.”

Translations