Top 50 Most Used X Verbs you should Know [2025]

Let’s be real, verbs that start with X are pretty rare. I mean, how often do you say “x-ray” as a verb, right? That’s why in the list below, you’ll find not just verbs that begin with X, but also plenty that have X somewhere in the middle. They’re all useful, punchy, and worth knowing.

Oh, and here’s a Pro tip: if you ever need to sound fancy in a conversation, just casually drop ‘excise’ or ‘xenograft’; people will either be impressed or slightly alarmed!

Ready to explore the X side of verbs? Let’s go!

50 Useful X Verbs You Should Know

Xerox

Although originally a brand name, “xerox” has become a verb in casual use, meaning to photocopy. It’s not as common now with the shift to digital, but you’ll still hear it.

-He xeroxed the class notes for everyone who missed the lecture.

-Back in the day, teachers would spend hours xeroxing worksheets before each term started.

 

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X-ray

Yes, it’s a verb too. To x-ray something is to scan it using radiation, typically in a medical or security setting.

-After the bike crash, they x-rayed her wrist to rule out a fracture.

-The airport staff x-rayed every piece of luggage twice due to the security alert.

Xenograft

This one’s for the science fans. To xenograft is to transplant tissue from one species to another.

-Researchers xenografted pig skin onto lab mice to test immune responses.

-In futuristic medicine, xenografting may one day save lives where human donors fall short.

X-out

When you cross something out with a bold “X,” you’re x-ing it out.

-I accidentally x-ed out the right answer on the test and lost the point.

-She x-ed out every date on the calendar until her vacation finally arrived.

Xylograph

This archaic yet beautiful verb refers to engraving wood for printing.

-He xylographed ancient myths onto wooden blocks for his art thesis.

-Monks once xylographed entire scriptures by hand, carving each symbol with precision.

Fix

A staple in English. To fix something is to make it right, whether it’s a leaky faucet or a broken heart.

-She fixed the wobbly table with nothing but a screwdriver and some glue.

-You can’t fix the past, but you can learn from it.

Mix

Mixing brings elements together, whether physical or metaphorical.

-He mixed the perfect shade of green using just blue, yellow, and a dash of white.

-At parties, she liked to mix people from different friend groups, it made things interesting.

Relax

To relax is to let go of stress, and in today’s fast-paced world, that’s an essential skill.

-After the exam, she just wanted to relax with a book and some tea.

-You could see him relax the moment he walked into the cabin.

Text

Once a noun, “text” is now a go-to verb in daily life. It means to send someone a written message on a mobile phone.

-I texted you hours ago, didn’t you get it?

-She prefers to text rather than call, especially during work hours.

Exit

To exit is to leave a place, but how you leave can say a lot.

-He exited the meeting with quiet confidence, leaving a strong impression.

-The actors exited the stage to thunderous applause.

Index

When you index something, you organize it systematically. Think databases, libraries, or brains that love structure.

-They indexed every file in the archive to speed up the research process.

-I’ve indexed my recipe cards by meal type, and it’s been life-changing.

Flex

Yes, it means bending muscles. But it also means showing off, sometimes proudly, sometimes annoyingly.

-He flexed his arms playfully after finishing the workout.

-She flexed her negotiation skills in the meeting and closed the deal in five minutes.

Box

To box can mean fighting, or just putting something neatly inside a container.

-He boxed competitively for two years before switching to coaching.

-She boxed up all her memories from college and stored them under her bed.

Unbox

Unboxing is an experience now, especially in the age of online shopping.

-The kids gathered around to unbox the surprise gift from their uncle.

-She unboxed her new laptop slowly, savoring every crinkle of plastic.

Inbox

Yes, it’s a noun, but it’s also used as a verb meaning to send a message.

-I’ll inbox you the link as soon as I find it.

-He inboxed his pitch directly to the editor, and surprisingly, she replied.

Remix

More than just music, to remix is to creatively revise anything.

-The producer remixed the song into a dance-floor anthem.

-She remixed her college essay into a viral LinkedIn post.

Fixate

Fixation is intense focus, often unhealthy.

-He fixated on every tiny detail until the project lost its soul.

-Don’t fixate on the one bad review; look at all the people who loved it.

Excavate

Digging up, unearthing, discovering, excavation is literal and metaphorical.

-They excavated the ruins inch by inch, careful not to damage the artifacts.

-In therapy, she excavated emotions buried for years.

 

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Exercise

It means to do sports or physical activities in order to stay healthy and become stronger. Exercise builds muscles and minds.

-He exercises every morning before breakfast, it’s his mental reset.

-You’ve got to exercise your creativity like a muscle if you want it to grow.

Expect

to think that something will happen because it seems likely or has been planned. Expectation can be hopeful or heavy.

-I didn’t expect to win; I just wanted to try.

-You can’t expect results overnight, but consistency pays off.

Refix

When something breaks again, sometimes you just have to refix it.

-He refixed the loose cabinet handle for the third time.

-I’ll refix the schedule so it aligns with your availability.

Detox

If someone detoxes, they are given special treatment at a hospital to help them stop drinking alcohol or taking drugs. Whether it’s your body, mind, or Instagram feed, sometimes you need a detox.

-She detoxed from sugar for 30 days and felt amazing.

-He took a weekend off to detox from negativity and doom-scrolling.

Vex

To vex is to annoy, but with a special kind of intensity.

-His refusal to answer directly vexed her more than a lie ever could.

-I’m not easily vexed, but today has truly tested me.

Hex

A hex is a spell, and to hex is to cast one. dark, dramatic, and very old-school.

-The villagers believed the old woman had hexed their crops.

-He jokingly claimed he’d hexed his rival’s football team.

Climax

To climax is to reach the highest, most intense point.

-The film climaxed with a twist that no one saw coming.

-Their argument climaxed with tears, followed by sudden silence.

Explain

To explain is to illuminate, to make sense of something complex or confusing.

-Can you explain that in simpler terms? I’m totally lost.

-He explained the whole thing with such passion, I was hooked.

Expand

To grow, to stretch, to evolve. expansion is the process.

-Her business expanded from a home kitchen to five storefronts.

-That moment expanded my view of what’s truly possible.

Express

To tell or show what you are feeling or thinking by using words, looks, or actions. Expression makes us human, it’s how we share who we are.

-She expressed her feelings through abstract paintings.

-Don’t be afraid to express disappointment—it builds trust.

Exceed

Going beyond expectations, sometimes spectacularly.

-The movie exceeded all box office predictions.

-He exceeded even his own hopes for how far he’d come.

Export

To export is to send something out, physically or metaphorically.

-They export handmade rugs to luxury stores across Europe.

-She exports positivity in every room she walks into.

Exhale

to breathe air, smoke, etc out of your mouth

-He exhaled deeply and finally let the stress melt away.

-She exhaled into the microphone before beginning the song.

Explore

To discuss or think about something carefully or to travel around an area in order to find out about it. Curiosity fuels exploration, of places or ideas.

-They explored the abandoned factory like kids on an adventure.

-He’s always exploring new ways to teach more effectively.

Exploit

To treat someone unfairly by asking them to do things for you, but giving them very little in return. This one’s tricky, exploitation is usually negative.

-The company exploited loopholes to avoid paying taxes.

-He exploited her kindness, and eventually, she stopped giving it.

Execute

To execute is to carry something out with precision, or consequence.

-The chef executed the dish perfectly, down to the garnish.

-The plan was bold, and he executed it without hesitation.

Exclude

To leave out, intentionally or otherwise.

-She excluded her former friend from the guest list.

-Exclude unnecessary fluff from your writing; it strengthens your voice.

Exhaust

Fatigue or depletion, physical or mental.

-That five-hour meeting exhausted everyone in the room.

-I’m emotionally exhausted from pretending everything is okay.

Extinguish

When the light—or the feeling—is put out.

-Firefighters extinguished the blaze just before it spread.

-His apology extinguished the anger that had been brewing.

 

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Exaggerate

Embellishing the truth for effect.

-He exaggerated the size of the fish by at least ten inches.

-Don’t exaggerate, it was inconvenient, not catastrophic.

Examine

Close, careful observation, intellectual or otherwise.

-The detective examined the note for any signs of forgery.

-She examined her emotions like puzzle pieces, trying to understand.

Exchange

Giving and receiving words, gifts, emotions.

-They exchanged glances across the room and smiled.

-Let’s exchange ideas tomorrow over coffee.

Excuse

To pardon or explain away.

-Excuse the mess, I wasn’t expecting guests.

-She excused his outburst, sensing he was under pressure.

Excite

To thrill or energize.

-The surprise party excited her more than words could say.

-He excites easily over small things, which makes life more fun.

Exist

To happen or be present in a particular situation or place.

-Do unicorns exist? Maybe, in someone’s imagination.

-She exists in a space between logic and feeling.

Experience

Living through something, learning from it.

-He experienced failure early, which shaped his work ethic.

-Travel lets you experience life from a new perspective.

Extend

To stretch outward, to offer.

-She extended her hand in peace, and he took it.

-The teacher extended the deadline after hearing everyone’s concerns.

Extract

Pulling something out, often with effort.

-They extracted the truth from him one awkward question at a time.

-The dentist extracted the wisdom tooth in ten minutes flat.

Expose

To reveal what’s hidden.

-The journalist exposed corruption in the highest ranks.

-Her vulnerability exposed her strength.

Excise

Surgical removal, or metaphorical cleaning.

-They excised the infected tissue and stitched him up.

-She excised toxic people from her life without hesitation.

 

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Exclaim

An outburst of emotion, often loud and spontaneous.

-“You made it!” he exclaimed, running to hug her.

-She exclaimed with joy when the results finally arrived.

Maximize

To push limits, amplify, go big.

-Let’s maximize our time together and make some memories.

-The design maximized light and space in a stunning way.

And that’s a wrap. 50 verbs with a little X magic in them. 

Who would’ve thought the most mysterious letter in the alphabet had this much personality?

 From “xeroxing” notes to “x-ing” out mistakes, we’ve seen just how creative English can get. 

Some of these verbs are everyday stuff, others are a little out there, but all of them bring something cool to the table.

Maybe you won’t be using “xylograph” in your next text message, but just knowing it exists adds a fun twist to how we think about words.

 Language isn’t just about what’s useful, it’s about expression, style, and sometimes just having fun with sounds and meanings.

Let’s be real, X doesn’t get much attention. It’s the underdog of the alphabet. 

But as you’ve seen, it actually shows up in a bunch of strong, interesting, and even powerful verbs. 

Whether you’re texting, relaxing, remixing, or trying to detox your life, X is doing more work than it gets credit for.

So next time you write something and want it to stand out, maybe throw in a few of these X-powered verbs. 

They’re bold, smart, and just a little unexpected, kind of like you, maybe?

Thanks for reading, and I hope this gave you a fresh take on a letter that usually hangs out in the shadows. 

Now go on, explore, express, and experiment with your words. 

See what I did there?;⁠)