Verbs are the lifeblood of any story. They’re what make the plot move forward and keep readers engaged. But not all verbs are created equal. Some are more powerful than others and can be used to create a more compelling narrative.
In this blog post, we’ll look at some of the most powerful action verbs you can use in your writing, and their meaning.
Action verbs express physical or mental actions. They are dynamic and are often used in resume writing and storytelling.
Action Verbs that Start with A
Certainly! Here’s a table of action verbs starting with the letter “A,” along with their meanings:
Action Verb | Meaning |
---|---|
Abandon | To give up completely; to leave with no intention of return. |
Accelerate | To increase the speed of something. |
Accomplish | To achieve or complete successfully. |
Account | To provide an explanation or justification. |
Accumulate | To gather or amass an increasing number or quantity. |
Achieve | To successfully bring about or reach a desired objective or result. |
Acknowledge | To recognize the existence or importance of something. |
Acquire | To buy or obtain something for oneself. |
Act | To take action or do something. |
Activate | To make something operational; to start. |
Adapt | To adjust or modify to suit a new condition or environment. |
Add | To join something to something else so as to increase the size, number, or amount. |
Address | To direct a speech or written statement to someone. |
Administer | To manage the operation or arrangement of something. |
Admire | To regard with respect or warm approval. |
Admit | To confess to be true or to be the case. |
Adopt | To take up or start to use or follow; to choose as one’s own. |
Advance | To move forward physically; to progress or improve. |
Advise | To offer suggestions about the best course of action to someone. |
Advocate | To publicly recommend or support. |
Affect | To have an effect on; to make a difference to. |
Affirm | To state as a fact; to declare strongly and publicly. |
Aid | To help, assist, or support someone or something. |
Alert | To warn someone of a potentially dangerous situation. |
Align | To place or arrange things in a straight line. |
Allocate | To distribute resources or duties for a specific purpose. |
Allow | To permit something to happen or to give permission. |
Alter | To change or modify something. |
Amaze | To surprise someone greatly; to astonish. |
Amend | To make minor changes to something to improve it. |
Analyze | To examine something in detail to understand it better or to draw conclusions. |
Answer | To respond to a question. |
Anticipate | To expect or predict something. |
Apologize | To express regret for something that one has done wrong. |
Appeal | To make a serious or formal request, especially to the public. |
Appear | To become visible or noticeable. |
Apply | To make a formal application or request. |
Appoint | To assign a job or role to someone. |
Appraise | To assess the value or quality of something. |
Appreciate | To recognize the full worth of something. |
Approach | To come near or nearer to something in distance or time. |
Approve | To officially agree to or accept as satisfactory. |
Argue | To give reasons or cite evidence in support of an idea, action, or theory. |
Arise | To emerge or become apparent. |
Arrange | To put things in a neat, attractive, or required order. |
Arrest | To seize someone by legal authority and take them into custody. |
Articulate | To express an idea or feeling clearly and coherently. |
Ask | To say something in order to obtain an answer or information. |
Assemble | To gather together in one place for a common purpose. |
Assess | To evaluate or estimate the nature, ability, or quality of something. |
Assign | To allocate a task or duty to someone. |
Assist | To help someone, typically by doing a share of the work. |
Assume | To suppose to be the case, without proof. |
Assure | To tell someone something positively to dispel doubts. |
Attach | To fasten, join, or connect something. |
Attack | To take aggressive action against something. |
Attempt | To make an effort to achieve or complete something. |
Attend | To be present at an event, meeting, or function. |
Attract | To cause someone to have a liking for or interest in something. |
Audit | To conduct an official financial examination of an organization’s accounts. |
Avoid | To keep away from or stop oneself from doing something. |
Awake | To stop sleeping; to wake up. |
Award | To give something as a prize or reward for merit. |
These verbs are essential in various contexts, from everyday conversation to professional and academic writing. Each verb carries a specific action or state of being, offering nuanced ways to express actions and intentions.
Action Verbs that Start with the Letter B
Sure, here’s a list of action verbs starting with the letter “B,” along with their meanings:
Action Verb | Meaning |
---|---|
Back | To support or help. |
Bake | To cook food by dry heat without direct exposure to flame, typically in an oven. |
Balance | To keep or put something in a steady position so that it does not fall. |
Ban | To officially or legally prohibit something. |
Bandage | To bind up a wound or damaged area with a bandage. |
Bargain | To negotiate the terms and conditions of a transaction. |
Bark | To emit a loud, rough noise, typically used to describe a dog’s sound. |
Bathe | To wash oneself or someone in a container of water. |
Battle | To engage in a fight or struggle against someone or something. |
Be | To exist; to have existence. |
Bear | To carry or bring something; to endure. |
Beat | To strike repeatedly. |
Beautify | To make something look attractive or pretty. |
Become | To begin to be or come to be something. |
Befriend | To act as a friend to someone by offering help or support. |
Beg | To ask someone earnestly or humbly for something. |
Begin | To start; to initiate something. |
Behave | To act in a particular way, especially to conduct oneself in a proper manner. |
Believe | To accept something as true; to feel sure of the truth of something. |
Bellow | To emit a deep loud roar, typically in pain or anger. |
Bend | To shape or force something straight into a curve or angle. |
Benefit | To receive an advantage; to gain something beneficial. |
Bet | To risk a sum of money or valued item against someone else’s on the basis of the outcome of a future event. |
Bid | To offer a certain price for something, especially at an auction. |
Bind | To tie or fasten something tightly. |
Bite | To use the teeth to cut into something. |
Blame | To hold responsible; to find fault with. |
Bleach | To make something whiter or lighter in color. |
Blend | To mix a substance with another substance so that they combine together. |
Bless | To confer or invoke divine favor upon; to express good wishes for. |
Blind | To make someone unable to see, permanently or temporarily. |
Blink | To close and open the eyes quickly. |
Block | To obstruct or impede the movement or progress of something or someone. |
Bloom | To produce flowers; to flourish. |
Blow | To create an air current; to expel air from the mouth. |
Bluff | To try to deceive someone about your abilities or intentions. |
Blush | To become red in the face, typically from embarrassment or shyness. |
Board | To get on or into a ship, aircraft, or other vehicle. |
Boast | To talk with excessive pride and self-satisfaction about one’s achievements, possessions, or abilities. |
Boil | To heat a liquid until bubbles form and it starts to vaporize. |
Bolt | To fasten something with a bolt; to run away suddenly. |
Bomb | To attack a place or object with bombs. |
Book | To reserve accommodations, tickets, etc., in advance. |
Boost | To help or encourage something to increase or improve. |
Borrow | To take and use something belonging to someone else with the intention of returning it. |
Bounce | To (cause to) move up and down or away after hitting a surface. |
Bow | To bend the head or upper part of the body as a sign of respect, greeting, or shame. |
Box | To fight with the fists; to put into a box. |
Brace | To prepare for something difficult or unpleasant. |
Braid | To interweave three or more strands of hair or other flexible material. |
Brake | To use a device to slow down or stop a vehicle or machine. |
Branch | To divide into one or more subdivisions. |
Brand | To mark something, typically a product or company, with a brand. |
Break | To separate into pieces as a result of a blow, shock, or strain. |
Breathe | To take air into the lungs and then expel it. |
Breed | To cause animals to produce offspring, typically in a controlled and organized way. |
Brew | To make beer, tea, or coffee through steeping, boiling, and fermentation. |
Bribe | To persuade someone to act in one’s favor by a gift of money or other inducement. |
Bridge | To make a bridge over something. |
Brighten | To make or become more light; to make or become cheerful. |
Bring | To take or carry someone or something to a place. |
Broadcast | To transmit a program or some information by radio or television. |
Broil | To cook by direct exposure to radiant heat. |
Brush | To apply a brush to; to remove something with a brush. |
Build | To construct something by putting parts or materials together. |
Bump | To come into contact with something with force. |
Burn | To be or cause to be destroyed by fire. |
Burst | To break open or apart suddenly. |
Bury | To put or hide something underground. |
Bust | To break, split, or burst something. |
Buy | To obtain something by paying for it. |
These verbs cover a wide range of actions and activities, from basic physical movements to complex social interactions. Each verb encapsulates a specific action, making them crucial for effective communication.
Action Verbs that Start with the Letter C
Absolutely! Here’s a list of action verbs starting with the letter “C,” along with their meanings:
Action Verb | Meaning |
---|---|
Calculate | To determine mathematically; to make an estimate or assessment. |
Call | To cry out; to contact by telephone. |
Calm | To make tranquil or quiet; to soothe. |
Camp | To live for a time in a tent or camp. |
Cancel | To decide or announce that something will not occur. |
Capture | To take into one’s possession or control by force. |
Care | To look after; to feel concern or interest. |
Carry | To transport or bear from one place to another. |
Carve | To cut a hard materialin order to produce an object or design. |
Cast | To throw something forcefully; to allocate a role in a play or film. |
Catch | To seize or stop something in motion. |
Cater | To provide food and drink at an event. |
Celebrate | To mark an occasion with festivities or ceremonies. |
Challenge | To invite into a competition; to question the truth of something. |
Change | To make or become different. |
Charge | To accuse someone of something; to demand a payment. |
Chase | To pursue in order to catch or catch up to. |
Chat | To talk in a friendly, informal manner. |
Check | To examine something to determine accuracy, quality, or condition. |
Cheer | To shout for joy or in praise or encouragement. |
Cherish | To protect and care for someone lovingly. |
Chew | To bite and grind with the teeth. |
Chill | To make something cold; to relax or calm down. |
Chop | To cut something into small pieces. |
Choose | To select from a number of possibilities. |
Chuckle | To laugh quietly or inwardly. |
Cite | To quote as evidence for an argument or statement. |
Claim | To state something as true; to assert ownership of. |
Clap | To strike the palms of the hands together repeatedly to express approval. |
Clarify | To make something clear or easier to understand. |
Classify | To arrange or organize by classes; to designate as classified. |
Clean | To make something free of dirt, marks, or mess. |
Clear | To remove an obstacle or hindrance; to become free of clouds or fog. |
Climb | To ascend or go up using the feet and often the hands. |
Close | To bring together the parts of; to end an activity or period of time. |
Coach | To train or instruct a team or player. |
Coax | To persuade someone gently to do something. |
Code | To write code for a computer program. |
Collaborate | To work jointly with others, especially in an intellectual endeavor. |
Collect | To bring or gather together objects of interest or value. |
Color | To add color to; to influence or distort. |
Combine | To unite or merge into a single body or group. |
Come | To move or travel towards the speaker or a specified place. |
Comfort | To soothe in times of distress or sorrow. |
Command | To give an authoritative order. |
Comment | To express an opinion or reaction. |
Commit | To carry out or perpetrate a mistake, crime, or harmful act. |
Communicate | To convey thoughts, feelings, or information to others. |
Compare | To estimate, measure, or note the similarity or dissimilarity between. |
Compel | To force or oblige someone to do something. |
Compete | To strive to gain or win something by defeating others. |
Compile | To assemble information or data from various sources. |
Complain | To express dissatisfaction or annoyance about something. |
Complete | To finish making or doing; to make whole or perfect. |
Compliment | To politely congratulate or praise someone for something. |
Compose | To create or write, as in music, poetry, or text. |
Conceal | To keep from sight; to hide. |
Concentrate | To focus all one’s attention or mental effort on a particular object or activity. |
Conceptualize | To form a concept or idea of something. |
Concern | To relate to; to affect or involve. |
Conclude | To bring something to an end; to finish. |
Conduct | To lead or guide to or around a place. |
Confess | To admit or state that one has committed a crime or is at fault. |
Confide | To trust someone with personal information or a secret. |
Configure | To arrange or set up something, especially computer hardware or software. |
Confirm | To establish the truth or correctness of something previously believed or suspected. |
Confront | To face up to and deal with a problem or difficult situation. |
Confuse | To make someone bewildered or perplexed. |
Congratulate | To praise someone for an achievement. |
Connect | To join together so as to provide access and communication. |
Conquer | To overcome and take control of something through use of force. |
Conserve | To protect something, especially an environmentally or culturally important place or thing, from harm or destruction. |
Consider | To think carefully about something, typically before making a decision. |
Console | To comfort someone at a time of grief or disappointment. |
Consolidate | To make something stronger or more solid. |
Construct | To build or form by putting together parts. |
Consult | To seek information or advice from someone, especially an expert. |
Consume | To eat, drink, or ingest something. |
Contact | To communicate with someone, typically to give or receive information. |
Contain | To have or hold something within. |
Contemplate | To think profoundly and at length; to meditate. |
Continue | To persist in an activity or process. |
Contract | To decrease in size, number, or range; to enter into a formal and legally binding agreement. |
Contrast | To compare in such a way as to emphasize differences. |
Contribute | To give something, especially money or goods, to help achieve or provide something. |
Control | To determine the behavior or supervise the running of something. |
Converse | To engage in conversation. |
Convert | To change the form, character, or function of something. |
Convey | To transport or carry to a place; to communicate a message or information. |
Convince | To persuade someone to do something. |
Cook | To prepare food by heating it, typically by boiling, baking, or frying. |
Cool | To make or become less hot. |
Cooperate | To work jointly towards the same end. |
Coordinate | To bring the different elements of a complex activity or organization into a relationship that will ensure efficiency or harmony. |
Cope | To deal effectively with something difficult. |
Copy | To make a duplicate of something. |
Correct | To make something free from errors; to rectify. |
Correlate | To have a mutual relationship or connection. |
Correspond | To have a close similarity; to communicate by exchanging letters. |
Counsel | To give advice, especially professional or formal. |
Count | To determine the total number of a collection of items. |
Course | To move without deviation or interruption. |
Cover | To place something upon or over something else to protect or conceal it. |
Create | To bring something into existence. |
Criticize | To indicate the faults of something or someone in a disapproving way. |
Cross | To go or stretch from one side to the other. |
Crush | To deform, pulverize, or force in |
Action Verbs that Start with the Letter D
Certainly! Here’s a table of action verbs starting with the letter “D,” along with their meanings:
Action Verb | Meaning |
---|---|
Dance | To move rhythmically to music, typically following a set sequence of steps. |
Dare | To have the courage to do something. |
Deal | To distribute cards in a card game; to handle or take action regarding a situation or problem. |
Debate | To discuss a subject in a formal manner, often with opposing viewpoints. |
Decay | To undergo decomposition; to rot or decompose. |
Deceive | To mislead or falsely persuade others. |
Decide | To make a choice or determination. |
Declare | To make a statement or announcement in aformal or public way. |
Decorate | To add something to an object or place to make it more attractive. |
Decrease | To make something smaller in size, amount, number, etc. |
Dedicate | To devote time, effort, or oneself to a particular task or purpose. |
Defeat | To win a victory over someone in a battle or competition. |
Defend | To protect from harm or danger; to support or justify. |
Define | To explain the meaning of a word or concept. |
Delay | To make something happen later than planned or expected. |
Delegate | To entrust a task or responsibility to another person. |
Delight | To please someone greatly. |
Deliver | To bring and hand over a letter, parcel, or ordered goods to the proper recipient. |
Demand | To ask for something forcefully, in a way that shows that refusal is not expected. |
Demonstrate | To show clearly by giving proof or evidence; to show a practical example. |
Deny | To state that something declared or believed to be true is not true. |
Depart | To leave, typically in order to start a journey. |
Depend | To rely on or trust; to be controlled or determined by. |
Describe | To give a detailed account in words of someone or something. |
Design | To decide upon the look and functioning of an object by making a detailed drawing of it. |
Desire | To wish for; to want strongly. |
Destroy | To put an end to the existence of something by damaging or attacking it. |
Detect | To discover or identify the presence or existence of. |
Determine | To cause something to occur in a particular way; to be the decisive factor in. |
Develop | To grow or cause to grow and become more mature, advanced, or elaborate. |
Devise | To plan or invent a complex procedure, system, or mechanism by careful thought. |
Diagnose | To identify the nature of an illness or problem by examination of the symptoms. |
Dictate | To give orders with total authority. |
Die | To cease to live. |
Differ | To be unlike or dissimilar. |
Dig | To break up and move earth with a tool, machine, etc. |
Direct | To control the operation or movement of something. |
Disappear | To cease to be visible; to vanish. |
Discover | To find something or someone unexpectedly or in the course of a search. |
Discuss | To talk about a subject with someone and tell each other your ideas or opinions. |
Disguise | To change the appearance of something or someone to hide its true identity. |
Dislike | To not like; to have a feeling of aversion or antipathy towards. |
Dismantle | To take a machine or structure to pieces. |
Display | To show or exhibit something; to demonstrate. |
Dispute | To argue or debate about something. |
Dissolve | To cause to disintegrate or disappear; to terminate a legal entity or arrangement. |
Distinguish | To recognize or treat as different. |
Distribute | To give out shares of something; to scatter or spread over an area. |
Disturb | To interrupt the normal arrangement or functioning of something. |
Dive | To jump head first into water. |
Divide | To separate into parts, groups, or divisions; to share. |
Do | To perform an action, task, or function. |
Draft | To compose a preliminary version of a text, document, or plan. |
Drag | To pull someone or something along forcefully, roughly, or with difficulty. |
Drain | To cause the water or other liquid in something to run out. |
Draw | To produce a picture or diagram by making lines and marks on paper with a pencil, pen, etc. |
Dream | To experience thoughts and images while sleeping; to aspire. |
Dress | To put clothes on oneself or someone else. |
Drill | To make a hole in something with a tool. |
Drink | To take liquid into the mouth and swallow. |
Drive | To operate and control the direction and speed of a motor vehicle. |
Drop | To let something fall by accident; to fall downward. |
Drown | To die through submersion in and inhalation of water. |
Drum | To play a drum; to make a continuous rhythmic noise. |
Dry | To remove moisture from something. |
Dust | To remove dust from the surface of something. |
Dwell | To live or reside in a particular place. |
These verbs are integral to the English language, providing specific and varied ways to describe actions and processes in numerous contexts, from daily life to professional environments.
Action Verbs that Start with the Letter E
Certainly! Here’s a list of action verbs starting with the letter “E,” along with their meanings:
Action Verb | Meaning |
---|---|
Earn | To receive money as payment for work that one has done. |
Eat | To put food into the mouth, chew it, and swallow it. |
Echo | To repeat or reflect sound. |
Edit | To prepare written material for publication by correcting, condensing, or modifying it. |
Educate | To give intellectual, moral, and social instruction. |
Effect | To cause something to happen; to bring about. |
Elaborate | To develop or present in detail. |
Elect | To choose someone by voting for them to hold a public office. |
Elevate | To raise to a higher position or level. |
Eliminate | To completely remove or get rid of something. |
Embark | To begin a course of action, especially one that is important or demanding. |
Embrace | To hold someone closely in one’s arms as a sign of affection; to accept or support a belief, theory, or change willingly and enthusiastically. |
Emerge | To come into view; to become apparent, important, or prominent. |
Emphasize | To give special importance or prominence to something in speaking or writing. |
Employ | To give work to someone and pay them for it. |
Empower | To give someone the authority or power to do something. |
Empty | To remove all the contents of a container. |
Enable | To give someone the means or ability to do something. |
Enact | To make a proposal into a law. |
Encounter | To unexpectedly experience or face something difficult or hostile. |
Encourage | To give support, confidence, or hope to someone. |
End | To bring something to a finish; to cease to happen. |
Endorse | To declare one’s public approval or support of something. |
Endure | To suffer something difficult, unpleasant, or painful patiently. |
Energize | To give vitality and enthusiasm to. |
Enforce | To compel observance of or compliance with a law, rule, or obligation. |
Engage | To participate or become involved in an activity. |
Enhance | To intensify, increase, or improve the quality, value, or extent of. |
Enjoy | To take delight or pleasure in an activity or occasion. |
Enlarge | To make something bigger. |
Enlighten | To give someone greater knowledge and understanding about a subject or situation. |
Enlist | To enroll or be enrolled in the armed services; to engage a person or their help or support. |
Enrich | To improve or enhance the quality or value of something. |
Enroll | To officially register as a member of an institution or a student on a course. |
Ensure | To make certain that something will occur or be the case. |
Enter | To come or go into a place. |
Entertain | To provide someone with amusement or enjoyment. |
Enthus | To inspire with enthusiasm. |
Entitle | To give someone a legal right or a just claim to receive or do something. |
Enumerate | To mention things one by one; to list. |
Envelop | To wrap up, cover, or surround completely. |
Envision | To imagine as a future possibility; to visualize. |
Erase | To remove written or printed material or data. |
Escape | To break free from confinement or control. |
Escort | To accompany someone somewhere, especially for protection or security, or as a mark of rank. |
Establish | To set up on a firm or permanent basis. |
Estimate | To form an approximate judgment or opinion regarding the worth, amount, size, weight, etc., of something. |
Evaluate | To form an idea of the amount, number, or value of; assess. |
Evaporate | To turn from liquid into vapor. |
Evolve | To develop gradually, especially from a simple to a more complex form. |
Exaggerate | To make something seem larger, more important, better, or worse than it really is. |
Examine | To inspect or scrutinize carefully. |
Excavate | To make a hole or channel by digging. |
Exceed | To go beyond the limits or expectations. |
Excel | To be exceptionally good at or proficient in an activity or subject. |
Exchange | To give something and receive something of the same kind in return. |
Excite | To cause someone to have a feeling of enthusiasm and eagerness. |
Exclaim | To cry out or speak suddenly and vehemently, especially in surprise, anger, or pain. |
Exclude | To deny someone access to or bar someone from a place, group, or privilege. |
Excuse | To forgive or overlook a fault or offense. |
Execute | To carry out a plan, order, or course of action. |
Exercise | To engage in physical activity to sustain or improve health and fitness. |
Exhaust | To drain of strength or energy; to use up resources completely. |
Exhibit | To display or show something for others to see. |
Exhilarate | To make someone feel very happy, animated, or elated. |
Exist | To have objective reality or being. |
Expand | To increase in size, number, or importance. |
Expect | To regard something as likely to happen; to anticipate the occurrence or the coming of. |
Expedite | To speed up the progress of; to hasten. |
Expel | To force someone or something out of a place. |
Explain | To make an idea, situation, or problem clear to someone by describing it in more detail or revealing relevant facts. |
Explode | To burst or shatter violently and noisily. |
Explore | To travel in or through an unfamiliar area in order to learn about it. |
Export | To send goods or services to another country for sale. |
Express | To convey a thought or feeling in words or by gestures and conduct. |
Extend | To cause to cover a larger area; make longer or wider. |
Extract | To remove or take out, especially by effort or force. |
Extrapolate | To estimate or conclude something by extending or projecting known information. |
Eye | To look at or observe closely or with interest. |
These verbs are essential for expressing a wide range of actions and processes, making them valuable for effective communication in various contexts.
Action Verbs that Start with the Letter F
Of course! Here’s a table of action verbs starting with the letter “F,” along with their meanings:
Action Verb | Meaning |
---|---|
Face | To confront and deal with or accept a difficult situation. |
Facilitate | To make an action or process easier. |
Fade | To gradually grow faint and disappear. |
Fail | To be unsuccessful in achieving a goal. |
Fall | To drop or descend under the force of gravity. |
Familiarize | To get to know something or learn about it. |
Fantasize | To imagine or create a fantasy. |
Fare | To perform in a specified way in a particular situation. |
Farm | To cultivate land and raise crops for food. |
Fascinate | To attract and hold the attention and interest of. |
Fashion | To form or make something in a particular way. |
Fasten | To attach or join one thing to another. |
Favor | To treat or support preferentially. |
Fear | To be afraid of someone or something. |
Feed | To give food to a person or an animal. |
Feel | To experience a sensation or emotion. |
Fence | To enclose or separate with a fence. |
Fetch | To go for and then bring back something or someone. |
Fight | To take part in a violent struggle or conflict. |
File | To place documents in a specified order for preservation and easy reference. |
Fill | To make something full; to occupy. |
Film | To capture moving images on camera. |
Filter | To pass a liquid, gas, light, or sound through a device to remove unwanted material. |
Finalize | To complete the last part of a plan, trip, project, etc. |
Finance | To provide funding for a project or person. |
Find | To discover or perceive something after searching or by chance. |
Fine-tune | To make small adjustments to something to achieve the best or desired performance. |
Finger | To touch or feel with the fingers. |
Finish | To bring something to an end or to completion. |
Fire | To discharge a gun or other weapon; to dismiss someone from a job. |
Fish | To catch or try to catch fish. |
Fit | To be the right size or shape for someone or something. |
Fix | To repair or correct something. |
Flap | To move or cause to move up and down or from side to side. |
Flash | To shine in a bright but brief, sudden, or intermittent way. |
Flatten | To make or become flat. |
Flavor | To give or add flavor to something. |
Flee | To run away from a place or situation of danger. |
Flex | To bend a limb or muscle. |
Flick | To propel something with a sudden sharp movement. |
Flinch | To make a quick, nervous movement as a reaction to fear, pain, or surprise. |
Flip | To turn over with a quick or sudden movement. |
Float | To move slowly on water or in the air. |
Flood | To fill or become covered with water, especially copiously or extensively. |
Floor | To cover a floor with a material. |
Flourish | To grow or develop in a healthy or vigorous way. |
Flow | To move along or out steadily and continuously in a current or stream. |
Fluctuate | To rise and fall irregularly in number or amount. |
Flush | To cause to flow or flood with or as if with water. |
Fly | To move through the air using wings. |
Focus | To concentrate attention or effort on something. |
Fold | To bend something over on itself so that one part of it covers another. |
Follow | To go or come after a person or thing proceeding ahead. |
Forbid | To refuse to allow something. |
Force | To make a way through or into something with physical strength. |
Forecast | To predict or estimate a future event or trend. |
Foresee | To anticipate or predict something. |
Forge | To form or create something with concentrated effort. |
Forgive | To stop feeling angry or resentful toward someone for an offense or mistake. |
Form | To bring together parts or combine to create something. |
Formalize | To give something a definite structure or shape. |
Formulate | To create or devise methodically. |
Forsake | To abandon or leave something or someone. |
Fortify | To strengthen or invigorate someone or something mentally or physically. |
Forward | To send a letter or email on to a further destination. |
Foster | To encourage the development of something, especially something desirable. |
Found | To establish or originate an institution, organization, or building. |
Frame | To construct by fitting parts together; to form or create. |
Freeze | To turn or be turned into ice or another solid as a result of extreme cold. |
Frequent | To visit a place often or habitually. |
Frighten | To cause fear in someone. |
Fry | To cook food in hot fat or oil. |
Fulfill | To achieve or realize something desired, promised, or predicted. |
Function | To work or operate in a proper or particular way. |
Fund | To provide money for a particular purpose. |
Furnish | To provide a house or room with furniture and fittings. |
Fuse | To join or blend to form a single entity. |
These verbs encompass a broad range of activities and processes, vital for clear and effective communication across various domains.
Action Verbs that Start with the Letter G
Sure, here’s a table of action verbs starting with the letter “G,” along with their meanings:
Action Verb | Meaning |
---|---|
Gain | To acquire something valuable or desired. |
Gamble | To play games of chance for money or stakes. |
Gather | To bring together and collect things from different places. |
Gaze | To look steadily and intently, especially in admiration, surprise, or thought. |
Generalize | To make a general or broad statement by inferring from specific cases. |
Generate | To produce or create something. |
Gift | To give something as a gift. |
Gild | To cover thinly with gold. |
Give | To freely transfer the possession of something to someone. |
Glide | To move smoothly and continuously along, as if without effort or resistance. |
Glimpse | To see or perceive briefly or partially. |
Glitter | To shine with a bright, shimmering, reflected light. |
Glow | To give out steady light. |
Glue | To fasten or join with or as if with glue. |
Gnaw | To bite at or nibble something persistently. |
Go | To move from one place to another; to travel. |
Govern | To conduct the policy, actions, and affairs of a state, organization, or people. |
Grab | To grasp or seize suddenly and roughly. |
Grade | To arrange in ranks or in the order of merit. |
Grant | To agree to give or allow something requested to. |
Grasp | To seize and hold firmly. |
Grate | To reduce something to small shreds by rubbing it on a grater. |
Gravitate | To move, or tend to move, towards a center of attraction. |
Greet | To give a polite word or sign of welcome or recognition to someone on meeting. |
Grill | To cook food on a grill; to subject to severe and searching questioning. |
Grind | To reduce something to small particles or powder by crushing it. |
Grip | To take and keep a firm hold of; to grasp tightly. |
Groan | To make a deep inarticulate sound in response to pain or despair. |
Grow | To increase in size or amount; to cultivate plants. |
Guard | To watch over in order to protect or control. |
Guess | To estimate or suppose something without sufficient information to be sure of being correct. |
Guide | To direct or influence the course of; to conduct in a particular direction. |
Gush | To flow out in a rapid and plentiful stream. |
These verbs are used to describe various actions and processes, each providing a distinct way of expressing movement, interaction, or change.
Action Verbs that Start with the Letter H
Absolutely! Here’s a table of action verbs starting with the letter “H,” along with their meanings:
Action Verb | Meaning |
---|---|
Hail | To call out or greet someone; to acclaim enthusiastically. |
Halt | To bring or come to an abrupt stop. |
Hammer | To beat or shape with a hammer; to drive something in with repeated blows. |
Handle | To feel or manipulate with the hands; to manage or deal with a situation. |
Hang | To suspend or be suspended from above with the lower part not attached. |
Happen | To take place or occur. |
Harass | To subject someone to aggressive pressure or intimidation. |
Harden | To make or become firm, stiff, or solid. |
Harmonize | To make or become harmonious; to add harmonious notes to a tune. |
Harvest | To gather a crop as a harvest. |
Hasten | To hurry or cause to hurry; to quicken the pace of. |
Hate | To feel intense or passionate dislike for someone. |
Haunt | To appear in a place repeatedly or persistently. |
Heal | To become sound or healthy again. |
Hear | To perceive with the ear the sound made by someone or something. |
Heat | To make or become hot or warm. |
Heave | To lift or haul something heavy with great effort. |
Help | To assist or aid someone; to make it easier or possible for someone to do something. |
Hesitate | To pause before saying or doing something due to uncertainty or indecision. |
Hide | To put or keep out of sight; to conceal from view. |
Highlight | To emphasize something; to mark with a color or light to draw attention. |
Hike | To walk for a long distance, especially across country or in the woods. |
Hinder | To create difficulties for someone, resulting in delay or obstruction. |
Hint | To suggest something indirectly or covertly. |
Hire | To give someone a job; to employ. |
Hit | To bring one’s hand or a tool or weapon into contact with someone or something quickly and forcefully. |
Hold | To grasp, carry, or support with one’s arms or hands. |
Honor | To regard or treat with respect and admiration. |
Hook | To fasten or catch with or as if with a hook. |
Hop | To jump lightly or to move by jumping with all or both feet at once. |
Hope | To expect and wish for a particular event or situation. |
Host | To act as host at an event or venue. |
Hover | To remain in one place in the air. |
Hug | To squeeze someone tightly in one’s arms as a sign of affection. |
Hum | To make a low, steady continuous sound like that of a bee. |
Hunt | To pursue and try to catch or kill an animal for food or sport. |
Hurry | To move or do things more quickly than normal; to rush. |
Hurt | To cause physical pain or injury to someone or something. |
These verbs offer a range of expressions for actions and processes, enabling nuanced communication across various situations and contexts.
Action Verbs that Start with the Letter I
Certainly, here’s a list of action verbs starting with the letter “I,” along with their meanings:
Action Verb | Meaning |
---|---|
Identify | To recognize and name someone or something. |
Illustrate | To explain or make clear by using examples, charts, or diagrams. |
Imagine | To form a mental image or concept of something. |
Imitate | To copy or mimic someone or something. |
Immerse | To involve oneself deeply in a particular activity or interest. |
Implement | To put a decision, plan, or agreement into effect. |
Imply | To indicate or suggest without being explicitly stated. |
Import | To bring goods or services into a country from abroad for sale. |
Impress | Tomake someone feel admiration and respect. |
Improve | To make something better. |
Improvise | To create or perform spontaneously or without preparation. |
Include | To comprise or contain as part of a whole. |
Increase | To make or become greater in size, amount, or degree. |
Indicate | To point out; to show. |
Induce | To bring about or give rise to. |
Infect | To affect with a disease-causing organism. |
Infer | To deduce or conclude information from evidence and reasoning. |
Inflate | To cause to become larger or more expanded. |
Influence | To have an effect on the character, development, or behavior of someone or something. |
Inform | To give knowledge or information to someone. |
Initiate | To begin or start something. |
Inject | To introduce a substance into the body with a syringe. |
Injure | To do physical harm or damage to someone or something. |
Inquire | To ask for information. |
Insert | To place, fit, or thrust something into another thing. |
Inspect | To look at something or someone carefully in order to discover information. |
Inspire | To fill someone with the urge or ability to do something creative. |
Install | To place or fix equipment or machinery in position for use. |
Instruct | To teach or inform someone how to do something. |
Insure | To secure or protect someone or something with insurance. |
Integrate | To combine one thing with another to become a whole. |
Intend | To have a course of action as one’s purpose or objective. |
Interact | To communicate or work together. |
Intercept | To stop or seize something while it is on its way somewhere. |
Interfere | To prevent a process or activity from continuing as planned. |
Interpret | To explain the meaning of information or actions. |
Interrupt | To stop the continuous progress of an activity or process. |
Intervene | To come between so as to prevent or alter a result or course of events. |
Interview | To conduct a formal meeting with someone, especially to assess their qualifications. |
Introduce | To bring something into use or operation for the first time. |
Invent | To create or design something that has not existed before. |
Invest | To expend money with the expectation of achieving a profit or material result. |
Investigate | To carry out a systematic or formal inquiry to discover and examine the facts. |
Invite | To ask someone to go somewhere or do something. |
Involve | To include someone or something in an activity or situation. |
Iron | To remove wrinkles from clothes or fabric using an iron. |
Irritate | To cause annoyance in; to bother. |
These verbs are useful in a variety of contexts, enabling clear and precise descriptions of actions and processes.
Action Verbs that Start with the Letter J
Certainly! Here’s a list of action verbs starting with the letter “J,” along with their meanings:
Action Verb | Meaning |
---|---|
Jab | To poke roughly or quickly, especially with something sharp or pointed. |
Jam | To push or cram something into a space; to become stuck or unable to move. |
Jeer | To make rude and mocking remarks, typically in a loud voice. |
Join | To link or connect together; to become a member of a group or organization. |
Joke | To tell a joke; to speak or act in a playful or humorous way. |
Jolt | To push or shake abruptly and roughly. |
Judge | To form an opinion or conclusion about something or someone. |
Jump | To push oneself off a surface and into the air by using the muscles in one’s legs and feet. |
Justify | To show or prove to be right or reasonable. |
Juggle | To continuously toss into the air and catch a number of objects so as to keep at least one in the air while handling the others. |
These verbs describe a variety of actions, useful for expressing different activities and processes in various contexts.
Action Verbs that Start with the Letter K
Here’s a list of action verbs starting with the letter “K,” along with their meanings:
Action Verb | Meaning |
---|---|
Keep | To retain possession of; to continue to have or hold. |
Kick | To strike or propel forcibly with the foot. |
Kidnap | To abduct someone and hold them captive, typically to obtain a ransom. |
Kill | To cause the death of a living being. |
Kiss | To touch or caress with the lips as a sign of love, sexual desire, or greeting. |
Knead | To work (moistened flour or clay) into dough or paste with the hands. |
Kneel | To be in or move into a position where the body is supported by a knee or the knees. |
Knit | To make (a garment, blanket, etc.) by interlocking loops of wool or other yarn with knitting needles or on a machine. |
Knock | To strike a surface noisily to attract attention, especially when waiting to be let in through a door. |
Know | To be aware of through observation, inquiry, or information; to have knowledge or information concerning. |
These verbs encompass a range of actions, offering diverse ways to describe activities and interactions in various contexts.
Action Verbs that Start with the Letter L
Certainly! Here’s a list of action verbs starting with the letter “L,” along with their meanings:
Action Verb | Meaning |
---|---|
Label | To assign a category or identify something by attaching a label to it. |
Labor | To work hard; to make great effort. |
Lace | To fasten or tighten a garment or item by tying its laces. |
Lament | To express sorrow, mourning, or regret, often demonstratively. |
Land | To come down through the air and alight on the ground. |
Lash | To tie with a rope or cord; to strike with a whip or similar implement. |
Last | To continue over a period of time; to endure. |
Laugh | To express mirth, pleasure, derision, or nervousness with an audible, vocal expulsion of air from the lungs. |
Launch | To start or set in motion an activity or enterprise. |
Lavish | To bestow something in generous or extravagant quantities. |
Lead | To be in charge or command of; to go in front of or with to show the way. |
Lean | To incline or bend from a vertical position. |
Leap | To jump or spring a long way, to a great height, or with great force. |
Learn | To acquire knowledge or skill in something by studying, practicing, being taught, or experiencing it. |
Lecture | To give a formal talk to a group of people, often at an educational institution. |
Lend | To grant the use of something temporarily on the understanding that it will be returned. |
Lengthen | To make something longer; to extend in length. |
Lessen | To make or become smaller or fewer in size, amount, intensity, or degree. |
Level | To make a surface flat or even. |
Liberate | To set someone free from a situation, especially imprisonment or slavery. |
License | To grant a license to permit the use of something or to allow an activity to take place. |
Lick | To pass the tongue over the surface of something. |
Lift | To raise to a higher position or level. |
Light | To illuminate or to start to burn; to ignite. |
Lighten | To reduce the weight or seriousness of something. |
Like | To find agreeable, enjoyable, or satisfactory. |
Limit | To set or serve as a limit to; to restrict. |
Link | To make, form, or suggest a connection with or between. |
Listen | To give one’s attention to sound; to hear attentively. |
Live | To have life; to be alive. |
Load | To put a large amount of something into or onto a vehicle, container, etc. |
Loan | To lend something to someone. |
Locate | To find or discover the exact position of something. |
Lock | To fasten or secure with a lock. |
Long | To desire something strongly. |
Look | To direct one’s gaze toward someone or something. |
Loosen | To make something less tight or firmly fixed. |
Lose | To be deprived of or cease to have or retain something. |
Love | To feel deep affection or sexual love for someone. |
Lower | To move or bring something down. |
Lure | To tempt a person or an animal to do something or to go somewhere, especially by offering some form of reward. |
These verbs provide a wide range of expressions for different actions and processes, making them versatile for various contexts and communications.
Action Verbs that Start with the Letter M
Absolutely! Here’s a list of action verbs starting with the letter “M,” along with their meanings:
Action Verb | Meaning |
---|---|
Maintain | To keep something at the same level or rate; to preserve from failure or decline. |
Make | To create or construct something. |
Manage | To be in charge of, administer, or run something. |
Manipulate | To handle or control something, often in a skillful manner. |
Manufacture | To make something on a large scale using machinery. |
Map | To represent an area on a map; to plan or detail the pathway or route of something. |
March | To walk in a military manner with a regular measured tread. |
Mark | To make a visible impression or stain on something. |
Market | To promote or sell products or services. |
Marry | To enter into a legal relationship of marriage; to wed. |
Match | To correspond or cause to correspond in some essential respect; to make or prove equal. |
Mature | To become fully developed physically; to come of age. |
Measure | To ascertain the size, amount, or degree of something. |
Mediate | To intervene between people in a dispute to bring about an agreement or reconciliation. |
Meet | To come into the presence or company of someone, typically by arrangement. |
Melt | To make or become liquefied by heat. |
Memorize | To commit something to memory; to learn by heart. |
Mend | To repair something that is broken or damaged. |
Mentor | To advise or train someone, especially a younger colleague. |
Merge | To combine or cause to combine to form a single entity. |
Migrate | To move from one region or habitat to another, typically regularly according to the seasons. |
Mimic | To imitate someone, typically in order to entertain or ridicule. |
Minimize | To reduce something, especially something undesirable, to the smallest possible amount or degree. |
Mirror | To show a reflection of; to emulate or imitate. |
Mislead | To cause someone to believe something that is not true. |
Miss | To fail to hit, reach, or come into contact with something. |
Mix | To combine or put together to form one substance or mass. |
Model | To use or follow as an example; to make a representation or simulation of something. |
Modify | To make partial or minor changes to something. |
Monitor | To observe and check the progress or quality of something over a period of time. |
Motivate | To provide someone with a motive for doing something; to stimulate someone’s interest or enthusiasm for doing something. |
Mount | To climb up onto; to get up on. |
Move | To change position or place; to relocate. |
Multiply | To increase or cause to increase greatly in number or quantity. |
Murder | To kill someone unlawfully and with premeditation. |
Murmur | To say something in a low or indistinct voice. |
Muse | To be absorbed in thought; to consider something thoughtfully. |
These verbs cover a wide range of actions and processes, offering diverse ways to describe different activities and interactions in various contexts.
Action Verbs that Start with the Letter N
Sure, here’s a list of action verbs starting with the letter “N,” along with their meanings:
Action Verb | Meaning |
---|---|
Nail | To fasten or attach something with nails. |
Narrate | To tell a story or describe a series of events. |
Navigate | To plan and direct the route or course of a ship, aircraft, or other form of transportation, especially by using instruments or maps. |
Neglect | To fail to care for or give attention to something or someone. |
Negotiate | To try to reach an agreement or compromise by discussion with others. |
Nest | To build or occupy a nest. |
Nestle | To settle or lie comfortably within or against something. |
Nod | To lower and raise the head quickly, in agreement or acknowledgment. |
Nominate | To propose or formally enter as a candidate for election or for an honor or award. |
Normalize | To bring or return to a normal condition or state. |
Note | To observe or take notice of something. |
Notice | To become aware of; to observe. |
Nourish | To provide with the food or other substances necessary for growth, health, and good condition. |
Nudge | To prod someone gently, typically with one’s elbow, in order to draw their attention to something. |
Nurse | To care for the sick or infirm; to feed and care for a young child or animal. |
Nurture | To care for and protect someone or something while they are growing. |
These verbs offer a range of expressions for different actions and interactions, useful across various contexts and communications.
Action Verbs that Start with the Letter O
Certainly! Here’s a list of action verbs starting with the letter “O,” along with their meanings:
Action Verb | Meaning |
---|---|
Obey | To comply with the commands, orders, or instructions of someone in authority. |
Object | To express disagreement or disapproval. |
Oblige | To make someone legally or morally bound to do something. |
Observe | To notice or perceive something and register it as significant. |
Obstruct | To block or get in the way of something. |
Obtain | To get, acquire, or secure something. |
Occupy | To fill or take up a space or time; to reside in as an occupant. |
Occur | To happen or take place. |
Offer | To present or proffer something for acceptance or rejection. |
Officiate | To act as an official in charge of something, especially a sporting event. |
Open | To move or adjust a door, window, etc., so as to leave a space allowing access and view. |
Operate | To control the functioning of a machine or process. |
Opine | To express an opinion. |
Oppose | To disapprove of and attempt to prevent, especially by argument. |
Opt | To make a choice or decision from a range of possibilities. |
Optimize | To make the best or most effective use of something. |
Order | To give an authoritative direction or instruction to do something. |
Organize | To arrange or put in order; to prepare or plan an event or system. |
Orient | To position or align something relative to the points of a compass or other specified positions. |
Originate | To create or initiate something. |
Overcome | To succeed in dealing with a problem or difficulty. |
Overlook | To fail to notice something; to provide a view over something. |
Overtake | To catch up with and pass while traveling in the same direction. |
Overwhelm | To give too much of something to; to overcome completely in mind or feeling. |
Own | To possess something as one’s own. |
These verbs encompass a range of actions, offering diverse ways to describe different activities and interactions in various contexts.
Action Verbs that Start with the Letter P
Sure, here’s a list of action verbs starting with the letter “P,” along with their meanings:
Action Verb | Meaning |
---|---|
Pack | To fill a container with objects or materials. |
Paint | To apply color, pigment, or other substances to a surface. |
Pardon | To forgive or excuse someone, typically for an offense or error. |
Participate | To take part or become involved in an activity. |
Pass | To move past or across; to hand over something. |
Pat | To touch gently with the hand flat. |
Patch | To mend or repair a hole or weak spot. |
Pause | To stop briefly in action or speech. |
Pay | To give someone money for goods, services, or work done. |
Peel | To remove the outer covering or skin from a fruit, vegetable, or shrimp. |
Perform | To carry out, complete, or execute an action or task. |
Permit | To allow something to happen or someone to do something. |
Persist | To continue firmly in a course of action despite difficulties. |
Persuade | To cause someone to do something through reasoning or argument. |
Photograph | To take a picture using a camera. |
Pick | To choose someone or something from a group. |
Pilot | To guide or steer a vehicle, especially an aircraft or ship. |
Pinch | To grip the skin and flesh tightly between finger and thumb. |
Plan | To decide and arrange how something will happen. |
Plant | To put a plant or seed in the ground so it can grow. |
Play | To engage in activity for enjoyment and recreation. |
Plead | To make an emotional appeal or earnest request. |
Please | To cause to feel happy and satisfied. |
Plunge | To jump or dive quickly and energetically. |
Point | To direct someone’s attention towards something by extending one’s finger or something held in one’s hand. |
Polish | To make smooth and shiny by rubbing. |
Ponder | To think about something carefully, especially before making a decision. |
Position | To put in a particular place or arrangement. |
Possess | To have as property; own. |
Post | To publish or announce publicly. |
Pour | To flow or cause to flow in a steady stream. |
Practice | To perform an activity or exercise regularly to improve skill. |
Praise | To express warm approval or admiration of. |
Pray | To address a prayer to a deity. |
Predict | To say what will happen in the future, often based on current information or experience. |
Prefer | To like one thing or person better than another. |
Prepare | To make ready or able beforehand for a specific purpose or event. |
Prescribe | To recommend a substance or action as something beneficial or necessary. |
Present | To give something to someone formally or ceremonially. |
Preserve | To maintain something in its original or existing state. |
Press | To apply pressure or force to something. |
Pretend | To act as if something is the case when in fact it is not. |
Prevent | To keep something from happening or arising. |
To produce text, images, or designs on paper or other material by a mechanical process. | |
Proceed | To begin or continue a course of action. |
Produce | To create or make something. |
Program | To set or adjust the function of a device or software. |
Progress | To move forward or advance in stages. |
Project | To estimate or forecast something based on current trends or data. |
Promise | To assure someone that one will definitely do, give, or arrange something. |
Promote | To support or actively encourage something. |
Propose | To put forward an idea or plan for consideration or discussion. |
Protect | To keep safe from harm or injury. |
Protest | To express an objection to what someone has said or done. |
Provide | To supply or make available something needed or wanted. |
Pull | To exert force on something so as to cause movement towards oneself. |
Pump | To move liquid, air, or gas with a pump. |
Punch | To strike with a fist. |
Punish | To impose a penalty on someone for an offense. |
Purchase | To buy something. |
Pursue | To follow or chase someone or something. |
Push | To exert force on someone or something so as to move them away from oneself. |
Put | To move something into a particular place or position. |
These verbs encompass a wide range of actions and processes, useful for various contexts and descriptions.
Action Verbs that Start with the Letter Q
Certainly! Here’s a list of action verbs starting with the letter “Q,” along with their meanings:
Action Verb | Meaning |
---|---|
Qualify | To be entitled to a particular benefit or privilege by fulfilling a necessary condition; to make competent or suitable. |
Quantify | To express or measure the quantity of something. |
Quarrel | To have an angry argument or disagreement. |
Quarry | To extract stone or other materials from a quarry. |
Quarter | To divide into four equal or corresponding parts. |
Quench | To satisfy a thirst; to extinguish a fire or flame. |
Question | To ask questions about something, especially to express one’s doubts about it or to check its validity or accuracy. |
Queue | To line up or wait in a line. |
Quicken | To make or become faster; to accelerate. |
Quiet | To make or become silent, calm, or still. |
Quilt | To stitch together layers of fabric. |
Quit | To leave or resign from a job or place. |
Quote | To repeat or copy out words from a text or speech written or spoken by another person. |
Quiz | To question someone, especially closely or repeatedly. |
These verbs provide a range of actions, offering diverse ways to describe different activities and interactions in various contexts.
Action Verbs that Start with the Letter R
Certainly! Here’s a list of action verbs starting with the letter “R,” along with their meanings:
Action Verb | Meaning |
---|---|
Race | To compete with others in a speed contest. |
Radiate | To emit energy, especially light or heat, in the form of rays or waves. |
Rage | To act or speak with intense, often uncontrolled anger. |
Raise | To lift or move to a higher position or level. |
Rally | To come together for common action or effort; to recover in health, spirits, or poise. |
Rank | To assign a place in a hierarchy or scale; to have a position higher or lower than others. |
Rate | To assign a standard or value to something according to a particular scale. |
React | To respond to something, especially in a quick or emotional manner. |
Read | To look at and comprehend the meaning of written or printed matter. |
Realize | To become fully aware of something as a fact; to understand clearly. |
Rear | To bring up and care for a child until they are fully grown; to erect or build. |
Reason | To think, understand, and form judgments logically. |
Reassure | To say or do something to remove doubts and fears of someone. |
Rebuild | To build something again that has been damaged or destroyed. |
Recall | To remember something; to call back or withdraw. |
Receive | To be given or presented with something. |
Reckon | To calculate or conclude after consideration. |
Recognize | To identify someone or something from having encountered them before; to know again. |
Recommend | To advise someone that something should be chosen. |
Reconcile | To restore friendly relations; to make or show to be compatible. |
Record | To set down in writing or other permanent form for later reference; to capture sound or images. |
Recover | To find or regain possession of something lost. |
Recruit | To enlist someone in the armed forces; to enroll someone as a member or worker in an organization. |
Redesign | To design something again or in a different way. |
Reduce | To make smaller or less in amount, degree, or size. |
Refer | To mention or allude to; to direct the attention of someone to. |
Reflect | To throw back without absorbing; to think deeply or carefully about. |
Reform | To make changes in something, typically a social, political, or economic institution or practice, in order to improve it. |
Refuse | To indicate or show that one is not willing to do something. |
Regain | To obtain possession or use of something again after losing it. |
Regulate | To control or maintain the rate or speed of something so that it operates properly. |
Rehabilitate | To restore someone to health or normal life through training and therapy. |
Rehearse | To practice a play, piece of music, or other work for later public performance. |
Reign | To hold royal office; to rule as king or queen. |
Reinforce | To strengthen or support, especially with additional personnel or material. |
Reject | To dismiss as inadequate, unacceptable, or faulty. |
Rejoice | To feel or show great joy or delight. |
Relate | To make or show a connection between. |
Relax | To make or become less tense or anxious. |
Release | To allow or enable to escape from confinement; to set free. |
Relieve | To alleviate or remove pain, distress, or difficulty. |
Rely | To depend on with full trust or confidence. |
Remain | To continue to exist, especially after other similar people or things have ceased to exist. |
Remember | To have in one’s mind an awareness of something that one has seen, known, or experienced in the past. |
Remind | To cause someone to remember someone or something. |
Remove | To take away or off from the position occupied. |
Render | To provide or give a service, help, etc.; to cause to be or become; to make. |
Renew | To resume an activity after an interruption; to extend for another period. |
Renovate | To restore something old to a good state of repair. |
Rent | To pay or receive payment for the use of a building, vehicle, or land. |
Repair | To fix or mend something that is broken or damaged. |
Repeat | To say or do again or more than once. |
Replace | To take the place of; to provide a substitute for something. |
Reply | To say something in response to something someone has said. |
Report | To give a spoken or written account of something that one has observed, heard, done, or investigated. |
Represent | To be entitled or appointed to act or speak for someone or something. |
Reproduce | To produce a copy or representation of. |
Request | To politely or formally ask for something. |
Rescue | To save someone from a dangerous or distressing situation. |
Research | To study materials and sources to establish facts and reach new conclusions. |
Resemble | To look or be like someone or something. |
Reserve | To retain or hold for future use; to book in advance. |
Reside | To live, especially on a permanent basis, in a place. |
Resign | To give up a job or position by telling one’s employer that one is leaving. |
Resist | To withstand the action or effect of something. |
Resolve | To settle or find a solution to a problem or contentious matter. |
Respect | To admire someone deeply, as a result of their abilities, qualities, or achievements. |
Respond | To say something in reply; to react to something. |
Rest | To cease work or movement to relax, refresh oneself, or recover strength. |
Restore | To bring back or re-establish a previous right, practice, or situation. |
Restrict | To put a limit on; to keep under control. |
Result | To occur or follow as the consequence of something. |
Resume | To begin again or continue after a pause or interruption. |
Retain | To keep possession of something; to remember something. |
Retire | To leave one’s job and cease to work, typically upon reaching a certain age. |
Retreat | To withdraw from enemy forces as a result of their superior power. |
Retrieve | To get or bring something back from somewhere. |
Return | To come or go back to a place or person. |
Reveal | To make known to others what was previously secret or unknown. |
Reverse | To move backward; to change to the opposite direction. |
Review | To assess or examine something formally with the possibility or intention of instituting change. |
Revise | To reconsider and alter something in the light of further evidence or to make corrections to a text. |
Revive | To restore to life or consciousness. |
Reward | To give something in recognition of service, effort, or achievement. |
Rhyme | To have or end with a sound that corresponds to another. |
Ride | To sit on and control the movement of an animal or vehicle. |
Ring | To cause a bell or other device to make a ringing sound; to surround something, forming a circle around it. |
Rinse | To wash something with clean water to remove soap, detergent, dirt, or impurities. |
Rip | To tear or pull something quickly or forcibly away from something or someone. |
Rise | To move from a lower position to a higher one; to get up from lying, sitting, or kneeling. |
Risk | To expose someone or something valued to danger, harm, or loss. |
Roar | To make a loud, deep, prolonged sound. |
Rob | To take property unlawfully from a person or place by force or threat of force. |
Roll | To move or cause to move in a particular direction by turning over and over. |
Rotate |
Action Verbs that Start with the Letter S
Certainly! Here’s a list of action verbs starting with the letter “S,” along with their meanings:
Action Verb | Meaning |
---|---|
Sail | To travel in a boat with sails, especially as a sport or recreation. |
Satisfy | To meet the expectations, needs, or desires of someone. |
Save | To keep safe or rescue from harm or danger. |
Say | To utter words or articulate sounds with ordinary speech. |
Scan | To look at something carefully, typically to find specific information. |
Scare | To cause fear or alarm to someone. |
Schedule | To arrange or plan for something to take place at a particular time. |
Score | To gain a point, goal, or run in a competitive environment. |
Scrub | To clean something by rubbing it hard with a brush, soap, and water. |
Search | To look for something carefully. |
Secure | To fix or attach something firmly so it cannot be moved or lost. |
See | To perceive with the eyes; to observe. |
Seek | To attempt to find something. |
Select | To carefully choose something as being the best or most suitable. |
Sell | To give or hand over something in exchange for money. |
Send | To cause something to go or be taken to a place, especially by mail. |
Serve | To perform duties or services for another person or organization. |
Set | To put, lay, or stand something in a specified place or position. |
Settle | To resolve or reach an agreement about something. |
Shake | To move back and forth or up and down with rapid, forceful, jerky movements. |
Shape | To give a particular form or shape to something. |
Share | To have a portion of something with another or others. |
Shave | To remove hair from the face or body by cutting it close to the skin with a razor. |
Shelter | To provide a place giving temporary protection from bad weather or danger. |
Shift | To move or cause to move from one place to another, especially over a small distance. |
Shine | To give out a bright light. |
Ship | To transport goods or people by sea or other means. |
Shiver | To shake slightly and uncontrollably due to cold or fear. |
Shoot | To kill or injure someone by firing a gun at them. |
Shop | To visit places where goods are sold to look at and buy things. |
Shout | To yell or cry out loudly. |
Show | To display or present something visually to others. |
Shrink | To become or make smaller in size or amount. |
Shut | To move something into position to block an opening. |
Sigh | To emit a long, deep, audible breath expressing sadness, relief, tiredness, or similar. |
Sign | To write one’s name on a document as a formal indication of one’s wishes or identity. |
Signal | To make a gesture, action, or sound to convey a message or instruction. |
Simplify | To make something less complex or easier to understand. |
Sing | To make musical sounds with one’s voice. |
Sink | To go down below the surface of something, especially of a liquid. |
Sit | To rest with the body supported by the buttocks or thighs; to be seated. |
Sketch | To make a rough drawing of something. |
Skip | To move along lightly, stepping from one foot to the other with a hop or bounce. |
Slap | To hit someone or something with the flat part of the hand. |
Sleep | To rest in a state of reduced consciousness. |
Slide | To move smoothly along a surface while maintaining continuous contact with it. |
Slip | To slide unintentionally for a short distance. |
Slow | To reduce one’s speed or the speed of a vehicle or process. |
Smash | To violently break something into pieces. |
Smell | To perceive or detect the odor or scent of something. |
Smile | To form one’s features into a pleased, kind, or amused expression. |
Smoke | To emit and inhale the smoke of tobacco or a drug. |
Smooth | To make or become smooth, removing lumps, wrinkles, or roughness. |
Snap | To cause to break suddenly and completely with a sharp cracking sound. |
Snatch | To quickly seize something in a rude or eager way. |
Sneeze | To make a sudden involuntary expulsion of air from the nose and mouth due to irritation of one’s nostrils. |
Sniff | To draw in air audibly through the nose to detect a smell. |
Soar | To fly or rise high in the air. |
Solve | To find an answer to a problem or question. |
Soothe | To gently calm or reduce one’s pain or discomfort. |
Sort | To arrange items in a particular order or category. |
Sound | To make a noise or vocal utterance. |
Speak | To say something in order to convey information or to express a feeling. |
Specify | To identify something explicitly or in detail. |
Spell | To name or write in order the letters constituting a word. |
Spend | To use money to pay for goods or services. |
Spill | To cause or allow liquid to flow over the edge of a container. |
Spin | To turn or cause to turn rapidly around an axis. |
Spit | To eject saliva forcibly from one’s mouth. |
Split | To break or cause to break forcibly into parts. |
Spoil | To diminish or destroy the value or quality of something. |
Spread | To open out something so as to extend its surface area, width, or length. |
Spring | To move or jump suddenly or rapidly upward or forward. |
Sprinkle | To scatter or pour small drops or particles of a substance over an object or surface. |
Sprint | To run at full speed over a short distance. |
Squeeze | To press something firmly, especially from all sides to compress it or extract liquid from it. |
Stabilize | To make or become unlikely to give way or overturn. |
Stack | To arrange objects in a neat pile. |
Stain | To mark or discolor with something that is not easily removed. |
Stamp | To bring down one’s foot heavily on the ground or on something. |
Stand | To be in an upright position on the feet. |
Stare | To look fixedly or vacantly at someone or something with one’s eyes wide open. |
Start | To begin or set out to do something. |
State | To express something definitely or clearly in speech or writing. |
Stay | To remain in the same place or condition. |
Steal | To take something without the owner’s permission. |
Steam | To emit or be filled with steam. |
Steer | To guide the course of a vehicle or vessel. |
Step | To move by lifting the foot and setting it down in a new position. |
Sterilize | To make something free from bacteria or other living microorganisms. |
Stimulate | To raise levels of physiological or nervous activity in the body. |
Stir | To mix a liquid or other substance by moving an object such as a spoon in a circular pattern. |
Stitch | To sew or fasten with stitches. |
Stop | To cause or come to an end; to bring to a standstill. |
Store | To keep or accumulate something for future use. |
Strain | To force through a filter; to exert or stretch to the utmost. |
Strategize | To plan the actions one will take to complete a task. |
Stretch | To be made or be capable of being made longer or wider without tearing or breaking. |
Strike | To hit or attack someone or something forcefully or violently. |
String | To |
Action Verbs that Start with the Letter T
Certainly! Here’s a list of action verbs starting with the letter “T,” along with their meanings:
Action Verb | Meaning |
---|---|
Tabulate | To arrange data in an organized form, usually in rows and columns. |
Tackle | To confront or take on a challenge; to grapple with. |
Tailor | To adapt something to suit a particular need or purpose. |
Take | To lay hold of something with one’s hands; to capture or seize. |
Talk | To communicate or express oneself verbally. |
Tame | To domesticate or bring under control an animal or person. |
Tap | To strike something lightly and usually repeatedly. |
Target | To aim at or direct efforts towards a particular goal or object. |
Taste | To perceive or experience the flavor of something. |
Teach | To impart knowledge to or instruct someone in how to do something. |
Tear | To rip or split something apart or to pieces. |
Telegraph | To send a message by telegraph; to convey an intended meaning indirectly through one’s actions. |
Telephone | To communicate with someone by calling them on the phone. |
Tell | To communicate information, facts, or news to someone in spoken or written words. |
Tempt | To entice or try to entice someone to do something that they find attractive but know to be wrong or unwise. |
Tend | To care for or look after; to give one’s attention to. |
Terminate | To bring to an end. |
Test | To take measures to check the quality, performance, or reliability of something, especially before putting it into widespread use or practice. |
Testify | To give evidence as a witness in a court of law. |
Thank | To express gratitude to someone. |
Think | To have a particular opinion, belief, or idea about someone or something. |
Thrive | To grow or develop well or vigorously. |
Throw | To propel something with force through the air by a movement of the arm and hand. |
Thrust | To push suddenly or violently in a specified direction. |
Tick | To make a regular short, sharp sound, like that of a clock. |
Tidy | To bring order to; to arrange neatly. |
Tie | To attach or fasten with string or similar cord. |
Time | To measure the time taken by a process or activity. |
Tip | To overbalance or cause to overbalance so as to fall or turn over. |
Tire | To feel or cause to feel in need of rest or sleep. |
Toast | To brown (bread or other food) by exposure to heat. |
Tolerate | To allow the existence or occurrence of something without interference. |
Trace | To find or discover by investigation; to copy by drawing over its lines. |
Track | To follow the course or trail of someone or something. |
Trade | To buy and sell goods and services. |
Train | To teach a particular skill or type of behavior through practice and instruction over a period of time. |
Transform | To make a thorough or dramatic change in form, appearance, or character. |
Translate | To express the sense of words or text in another language. |
Transmit | To send or convey from one person or place to another. |
Transport | To take or carry people or goods from one place to another. |
Travel | To make a journey, typically of some length. |
Treat | To behave towards or deal with someone in a certain way. |
Tremble | To shake involuntarily, typically as a result of anxiety, excitement, or frailty. |
Trigger | To cause an event or situation to happen or exist. |
Trim | To make something neat or of the desired size or form by cutting away irregular or unwanted parts. |
Trip | To catch one’s foot on something and stumble or fall. |
Trot | To move at a pace faster than a walk, lifting each diagonal pair of legs alternately. |
Trouble | To cause distress or anxiety to; to disturb the peace of mind of. |
Trust | To believe in the reliability, truth, or ability of someone or something. |
Try | To make an attempt or effort to do something. |
Tug | To pull something hard or suddenly. |
Tumble | To fall suddenly, clumsily, or headlong. |
Turn | To move in a circular direction entirely or partly; to change direction. |
Tutor | To instruct or teach, typically in a private or individual setting. |
Type | To write using a keyboard. |
Typify | To represent or symbolize; to embody the essential characteristics of something. |
These verbs cover a wide range of actions and processes, offering diverse ways to describe different activities and interactions in various contexts.
Action Verbs that Start with the Letter U
Absolutely! Here’s a list of action verbs starting with the letter “U,” along with their meanings:
Action Verb | Meaning |
---|---|
Uncover | To remove a cover or covering from; to reveal or disclose something hidden or secret. |
Undergo | To experience or be subjected to something, typically something unpleasant or arduous. |
Underline | To draw a line under a word or phrase for emphasis; to emphasize. |
Understand | To perceive the intended meaning of; to grasp the significance of. |
Undertake | To commit oneself to and begin an enterprise or responsibility; to take on. |
Unfold | To open or spread out something that has been folded; to reveal or disclose over time. |
Unify | To make or become united, uniform, or whole. |
Unlock | To open a lock or something locked by means of a key or mechanism. |
Unpack | To remove things from a suitcase, bag, or other container. |
Unravel | To untangle or resolve a complex situation; to separate out the details or parts of. |
Update | To make something more modern or up to date; to inform someone about the latest developments. |
Upgrade | To raise something to a higher standard, especially in terms of its quality or performance. |
Uphold | To maintain or support in the face of possible opposition. |
Use | To employ for a particular purpose or to put into service; to utilize. |
Utilize | To make practical and effective use of something. |
Utter | To express by speaking; to articulate a sound or word. |
These verbs encompass a range of actions, offering diverse ways to describe different activities and interactions in various contexts.
Action Verbs that Start with the Letter V
Certainly! Here’s a list of action verbs starting with the letter “V,” along with their meanings:
Action Verb | Meaning |
---|---|
Vacate | To leave a place previously occupied; to make vacant. |
Validate | To check or prove the validity or accuracy of something; to make or declare legally valid. |
Value | To estimate the monetary worth of something; to consider with respect to worth, excellence, usefulness, or importance. |
Vanish | To disappear suddenly and completely. |
Vary | To differ in size, amount, degree, or nature from something else of the same general class. |
Vent | To give free expression to a strong emotion; to release. |
Venture | To dare to do something or go somewhere that may be dangerous or unpleasant; to take a risk. |
Verbalize | To express in words. |
Verify | To make sure or demonstrate that something is true, accurate, or justified. |
Veto | To reject a decision or proposal made by a law-making body. |
View | To look at or inspect; to regard in a particular light or as specified. |
Violate | To break or fail to comply with a rule or formal agreement; to treat something sacred with irreverence or disrespect. |
Visit | To go to see and spend time with someone socially or for consultation or business. |
Visualize | To form a mental image of; to imagine. |
Voice | To express something in words. |
Volunteer | To freely offer to do something; to work for an organization without being paid. |
Vote | To give or register a vote. |
Vow | To promise solemnly; to pledge. |
Voyage | To travel over water in a ship or boat. |
These verbs cover a wide range of actions and processes, offering diverse ways to describe different activities and interactions in various contexts.
Action Verbs that Start with the Letter W
Sure! Here’s a list of action verbs starting with the letter “W,” along with their meanings:
Action Verb | Meaning |
---|---|
Wait | To stay where one is or delay action until a particular time or event. |
Wake | To emerge or cause to emerge from sleep; to stop sleeping. |
Walk | To move at a regular pace by lifting and setting down each foot in turn. |
Wander | To walk or move in a leisurely or aimless way. |
Want | To have a desire to possess or do something. |
Warn | To inform someone in advance of a possible danger or problem. |
Wash | To clean with water and, typically, soap or detergent. |
Waste | To use or expend carelessly, extravagantly, or to no purpose. |
Watch | To look at or observe attentively over a period of time. |
Water | To pour or sprinkle water over plants or a piece of land. |
Wave | To move one’s hand to and fro in greeting or as a signal. |
Weaken | To make or become weaker in strength, power, or influence. |
Wear | To have on one’s body as clothing, decoration, or protection. |
Weave | To form by interlacing threads or by combining elements into a connected whole. |
Weep | To shed tears; to cry. |
Weigh | To find out how heavy something is; to measure the weight of. |
Welcome | To greet someone in a glad, polite, or friendly way. |
Weld | To join together metal pieces or parts by heating the surfaces to the point of melting and uniting them by pressing, hammering, etc. |
Whisper | To speak very softly using one’s breath without one’s vocal cords, especially for the sake of privacy. |
Whistle | To make a clear musical sound by forcing breath through a small hole between one’s lips or teeth. |
Win | To achieve victory in a contest, conflict, or competition. |
Wipe | To clean or dry by rubbing with a cloth, a piece of paper, or one’s hand. |
Wish | To feel or express a strong desire or hope for something that cannot or probably will not happen. |
Withdraw | To remove or take away something from a particular place or position. |
Withstand | To remain undamaged or unaffected by; to resist. |
Witness | To see an event, typically a crime or accident, take place. |
Wonder | To feel curiosity or doubt about something; to feel admiration and amazement. |
Work | To be engaged in physical or mental activity in order to achieve a result; to do a job. |
Worry | To give way to anxiety or unease; to allow one’s mind to dwell on difficulty or troubles. |
Wrap | To cover or enclose something in paper or soft material. |
Wreck | To destroy or severely damage something. |
Wrestle | To engage in a physical struggle or fight with someone by grappling with them. |
Write | To mark letters, words, or other symbols on a surface, typically paper, with a pen, pencil, or similar implement. |
These verbs offer a range of expressions for different actions and interactions, useful across various contexts and communications.
Action Verbs that Start with the Letter X
Certainly! Here’s a list of action verbs starting with the letter “X,” which are relatively fewer due to the limited use of “X” as a starting letter in English. The meanings are included as well:
Action Verb | Meaning |
---|---|
X-ray | To photograph or scan the inside of something, especially a part of the body, using X-rays. |
Xerox | To make a copy of a document or image using a photocopier (Xerox, originally a brand name, is often used generically). |
The use of “X” as the first letter in verbs is not common, and as a result, there are very few action verbs that start with “X.” The two provided are the most commonly recognized in general usage.
Action Verbs that Start with the Letter Y
Sure, here’s a list of action verbs starting with the letter “Y,” along with their meanings:
Action Verb | Meaning |
---|---|
Yank | To pull something with a quick, forceful movement. |
Yawn | To open the mouth wide and inhale deeply due to tiredness or boredom. |
Yearn | To have an intense feeling of longing for something, typically something that one has lost or been separated from. |
Yell | To shout something or make a loud noise, usually when you are angry, in pain, or excited. |
Yield | To produce or provide a natural, agricultural, or industrial product; to give way to arguments, demands, or pressure. |
Yoke | To join or pair together. |
Young | To have or show the freshness or energy of someone young; to rejuvenate. |
Youth | To engage in youthful activities or behave in a manner characteristic of young people. |
These verbs provide a range of actions and are useful for various contexts and descriptions.
Action Verbs that Start with the Letter Z
Absolutely! Here’s a list of action verbs starting with the letter “Z,” along with their meanings:
Action Verb | Meaning |
---|---|
Zero | To adjust to a precise position or alignment; to aim at a target. |
Zigzag | To move in a pattern that looks like a series of letter Z’s, making sharp turns in alternating directions. |
Zip | To move at high speed or to fasten something with a zipper. |
Zone | To divide or assign into zones, especially for different purposes or uses. |
Zoom | To move or travel very quickly; to change camera focus to give the impression of moving closer to or away from an object. |
These verbs, though not many, are distinct and provide a range of expressions for actions, particularly useful in specific contexts or descriptions.