Noun/Verb Stress Pairs

Below is a list of common noun/verb pairs in English where the stress shifts depending on usage.

Quick Rule

• Noun → stress on the first syllable
• Verb → stress on the second syllable

This pattern is very common in English, especially with words borrowed from Latin/French.

Noun/Verb Stress Pairs

record

• Noun: RE‑cord → a written account, a disc, or a history
  • She broke the school record in running.
  • I have a music record at home.
  • The teacher keeps a record of our marks.
• Verb: re‑CORD → to capture sound, video, or data
  • We will record our voices in class.
  • Dad likes to record family videos.
  • The teacher will record our answers on the board.

• object
  • Noun: OB‑ject → a thing
  • Verb: ob‑JECT → to oppose
• conduct
  • Noun: CON‑duct → behavior
    • His conduct was unacceptable.
  • Verb: con‑DUCT → to lead; to carry out
• contract
  • Noun: CON‑tract → an agreement
  • Verb: con‑TRACT → to shrink; to agree formally
• increase
  • Noun: IN‑crease → a rise
  • Verb: in‑CREASE → to grow
• decrease
  • Noun: DE‑crease → a reduction
  • Verb: de‑CREASE → to reduce
• import
  • Noun: IM‑port → goods brought in
  • Verb: im‑PORT → to bring in
• export
  • Noun: EX‑port → goods sent out
  • Verb: ex‑PORT → to send out
• suspect
  • Noun: SUS‑pect → a person under suspicion
  • Verb: sus‑PECT → to think something is true
• address
  • Noun: AD‑dress → a location, speech
  • Verb: ad‑DRESS → to speak to, to deal with
• project
  • Noun: PRO‑ject → a plan, assignment, or piece of work
  • Verb: pro‑JECT → to throw forward, to forecast, or to display
• conflict
  • Noun: CON‑flict → a struggle, disagreement
  • Verb: con‑FLICT → to clash, to disagree
• contest
  • Noun: CON‑test → a competition
  • Verb: con‑TEST → to challenge, to oppose
• rebel
  • Noun: RE‑bel → a person who resists authority
  • Verb: re‑BEL → to resist or fight against
• subject
  • Noun: SUB‑ject → a topic, a person under authority
  • Verb: sub‑JECT → to cause to undergo, to control
• insult
  • Noun: IN‑sult → an offensive remark
  • Verb: in‑SULT → to offend