15 Verbs That Start With K | List, Definitions & Examples
Very few verbs in English start with the letter K. There are only 15 that people use in everyday conversation. The two most common verbs that start with K are “know” and “keep,” and the list also includes “kayak,” “knit,” and “knead.”
This guide includes definitions and examples for the 15 common verbs that start with K, as well as 4 unusual ones.
15 common verbs that start with K
Here are the 15 common verbs that start with K along with their definitions and example sentences.
| Verb that starts with K | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Kayak | Paddle or travel in the type of boat with the same name | Justin kayaks on the lake every Sunday. |
| Keep | Have something and not give it away | We found a kitten and decided to keep her. |
| Maintain the same condition | Kyle always keeps his desk very organized. | |
| Key | Type information into a computer or other electronic device | Employees must key in their ID numbers when they log in to work. |
| Kick | Hit something with your foot | Charlotte kicked the ball into the goal and scored a point. |
| Kickstart | Make something start or gain momentum | The promotion kickstarted Julio’s management career. |
| Kid | Joke with someone or say something sarcastic | I was just kidding when I said that I won the lottery. |
| Kidnap | Illegally take someone away | Three outlaws kidnapped Princess Buttercup, but Wesley quickly rescued her. |
| Kill | Cause a living thing to die | Chemicals that kill weeds also kill butterflies and bees. |
| Kindle | Start a fire or an idea | The documentary kindled my fascination for tropical birds. |
| Knead | Press dough with your hands to make bread (or similar) | Knead the pizza dough for 5 minutes, and let it rise for 2 hours. |
| Kneel | Go down on one or both knees | Javier knelt on his right knee to tie the shoelaces on his left sneaker. |
| Knight | Give someone an official title of honor (aka make someone a knight) | Queen Elizabeth knighted Elton John in 1998 at Buckingham Palace. |
| Knit | Make clothing or fabric with yarn and needles | Dorothy knitted scarves for everyone last Christmas. |
| Knock | Hit a door or surface to make a sound | I knocked on the door three times, but no one answered. |
| Know | Have information or understanding about someone or something | Only one student knew the answer to the third question on the test. |
- Keep→kept
- Know→knew
The verb “kneel” has an optional, irregular past-tense form. You can say “kneeled” or “knelt,” depending on your preference. QuillBot’s Grammar Checker can help you spell and conjugate English verbs correctly.
Rare verbs that start with K
There are 4 other verbs that start with K, but they’re extremely rare in English writing. Two of them are related to boats and sailing.
- Kedge: Move a boat by pulling it toward an anchor
- Keel: (Of a boat or ship) Turn over on its side
- Kibble: Turn something into small pieces for animal food
- Kite: Soar through the air like a kite
- Nate’s jokes were so funny that I keeled over with laughter.
Frequently asked questions about verbs that start with K
- What are some positive verbs that start with K?
-
Positive verbs that start with K can include “keep,” “know,” and “kiss,” depending on the context. Here are their definitions and examples of when they have a positive connotation.
- Keep: To have something and not give it away or to stay in the same state (e.g., “My favorite sweater keeps me warm and cozy”)
- Know: To have information or understanding about someone or something (“Corey knows how to make everyone feel welcome”)
- Kiss: To touch lips as a sign of affection (“When the bride and groom kissed, everyone cheered”)
Have you tried QuillBot’s AI Chat for questions about verbs? It can show you lists of other verbs that start with K or answer questions about their meanings.
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Routh, N. (2026, January 28). 15 Verbs That Start With K | List, Definitions & Examples. Quillbot. Retrieved February 8, 2026, from https://quillbot.com/blog/word-finder/verbs-that-start-with-k/
