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Verbal noun

A noun which is derived from a verb.

A verbal noun exhibits all the ordinary properties of nouns and none of the properties of verbs.

In English, verbal nouns are constructed with a variety of suffixes: arrive (verb)/arrival (noun), decide (verb)/decision (noun), destroy (verb)/destruction (noun), fly (verb)/flight (noun).

• I am looking for a flight to Tokyo.
• Her decision to quit the job startled us.

It is possible for a verbal noun to be identical in form to its source verb, as in return (verb)/return (noun) and attack/attack.

It is also possible for a verbal noun to be formed with the suffix –ing.