main verb

noun

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

Similar
full verblexical verb
Opposite
auxiliary verbhelping verb
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Meanings

nounmain verb (plural main verbs)

plural main verbs

  1. grammarIn a clause, the verb with the highest semantic content, contrasted with auxiliary verb.
  2. grammarIn a sentence, the main-clause verb with the highest semantic content.

Synonyms & antonyms

Similar
full verblexical verb
Opposite
auxiliary verbhelping verb
Also see
full verblexical verb

Translations

Catalan verb principal
  • verb principalverb in a clause with the highest semantic content
Danish hovedverbum
  • hovedverbumverb in a clause with the highest semantic content
Dutch hoofdwerkwoord
  • hoofdwerkwoordverb in a clause with the highest semantic content
Finnish pääverbi
  • pääverbiverb in a clause with the highest semantic content
French verbe principal
  • verbe principalverb in a clause with the highest semantic content
German Hauptverb
  • Hauptverbverb in a clause with the highest semantic content
Hungarian főige
  • főigeverb in a clause with the highest semantic content
Icelandic aðalsögn
  • aðalsögnverb in a clause with the highest semantic content
Italian verbo principale
  • verbo principaleverb in a clause with the highest semantic content
Japanese 本動詞, 主動詞
  • 本動詞 (hondōshi)verb in a clause with the highest semantic content
  • 主動詞 (shudōshi)verb in a clause with the highest semantic content
Korean 본동사
  • 본동사 (bondongsa)verb in a clause with the highest semantic content
Norwegian hovedverb
  • hovedverbverb in a clause with the highest semantic content
Polish czasownik leksykalny
  • czasownik leksykalnyverb in a clause with the highest semantic content
Portuguese verbo principal
  • verbo principalverb in a clause with the highest semantic content
Spanish verbo principal
  • verbo principalverb in a clause with the highest semantic content
Swedish huvudverb
  • huvudverbverb in a clause with the highest semantic content
Cite this entry
APA

main verb. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/main%20verb

MLA

“main verb.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/main%20verb. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “main verb,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/main%20verb.

Source: main verb on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.