An ELT Glossary : Inchoative Verbs


Definition : Inchoative verbs describe a change of state.

Examples : 

bloom - The roses bloomed.
dry - The washing dried.
evaporate - The water evaporated.
melt - The snow melted.
open - The door opened.


Further information: 

Some inchoative verbs have a transitive, causative verb as a counterpart :

melt - The snow melted. / The sun melted the snow.
open - The door opened. / Marian opened the door.