I don’t think I have ever said “google it”, but it appears enough other people have to warrant Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary adding the verb to it’s latest edition.
Link: adding the verb to it’s latest edition
“Google is definitely a verb,” said Dan Reynolds, a 35-year-old salesman at YES Computers in Northampton. “Google has become like a secondary brain for a lot of people. If you want quick info on something, that’s what you do. You google it.”
Respectful of the trademark, Merriam-Webster lowercases the entry but maintains the capitalization while explaining that the verb means “to use the Google search engine” to retrieve online information.
“We’re defining a trademark as a verb, just like we did with the word xerox,” Morse said.
The Fool.com looks at other popular names that have gone on to become verbs. Xeroxed and Photoshopped are well known examples.
So what are the next additions? Here’s some ideas:
“ebayed” – def – to block a competitor’s service by changing your terms and conditions.
“the dells” – def – an undiagnosed genital condition that results in a burning sensation in your lap.
“xboxed” – def – to start crashing the moment you turn something on.
“scobled” – def – when a company loses street-cred when a key blogger leaves the company.
“AOL’d” – def – the complex process of trying to convey simple instructions to a customer service rep.
Any others I missed?
Andy Beal is an internet marketing consultant and considered one of the world’s most respected and interactive search engine marketing experts. Andy has worked with many Fortune 1000 companies such as Motorola, CitiFinancial, Lowes, Alaska Air, DeWALT, NBC and Experian.
You can read his internet marketing blog at Marketing Pilgrim and reach him at andy.beal@gmail.com.
