Action Words (Verbs) – Vocabulary

To move or do something quickly

To run a short distance at the fastest possible speed

To run or move somewhere very quickly and suddenly

To run away suddenly and quickly, often from fear or surprise

To jump on one foot or to move by jumping with both feet together

To make a long or high jump

To move quickly to avoid someone or something

To move on your hands and knees, staying close to the ground

To move quietly and secretly, to avoid being seen or heard

To move into a flat position, on a surface like a bed or the ground

To move through the air using wings, or to travel in an aircraft

To walk very quietly on the tips of your toes, to avoid making noise

To change direction suddenly, especially to avoid hitting something

To move your head up and down to show agreement, understanding or as a greeting

To move your head from side to side, to show disagreement, refusal or disapproval

To extend your body or a part of your body to its full length, to relax the muscles

To open your mouth wide and take a deep breath, usually when you are tired or bored

To take air into your lungs and let it out, to get oxygen

To push air out of your throat and lungs suddenly and often loudly, usually because you are sick or something is in your throat

To suddenly and forcefully expel air from your nose and mouth, usually because of an irritation in your nose

To close and open one eye quickly

To become aware of something or someone, by seeing, hearing or feeling it

To watch or look at someone or something carefully for a period of time

To look steadily and for a long time at something

To look at someone or something with your eyes wide open for a long time, in a fixed, intense or surprised way

To let go of something, allowing it to fall

To quickly take hold of something or someone with your hand

To squeeze something tightly between your thumb and finger

To make a sudden, sharp sound, often by quickly moving your fingers

To push firmly against something

To hit something lightly and quickly, often with your finger or hand, making a soft sound

To press something firmly, usually with your whole hand or both hands

To take someone's hand and move it up and down as a greeting, an agreement or a sign of friendship

To hold something with your hands or arms and move it from one place to another

To move something upwards from a lower position using your hands or arms

To gently stroke or touch as a sign of affection

To touch someone or something gently and repeatedly with your open hand, often to show kindness or approval

To control or handle something skillfully with your hands, often to move it, shape it or make it work

To pull something along the ground or another surface

To write by pressing keys on a keyboard

To move text or images up, down or across a screen, by touching the screen or using a mouse or trackpad with your hand

To move your hand or finger quickly and smoothly across a surface

To move a spoon or other utensil around in a liquid or mixture, to mix it or to make something dissolve

To cut something into small pieces with a sharp tool like a knife or an axe, for instance

To press and stretch dough repeatedly with your hands

To join or repair things, especially fabric, by passing a needle and thread through them

To fasten or tighten something by turning it with a twisting motion, using a tool like a screwdriver

To hit something forcefully and repeatedly with a hammer

To use force to open something, lift something or separate things that are stuck together, using a lever or a tool

To stand up from a sitting or lying position, or to get out of bed in the morning

To stop sleeping and become conscious

To place clothing or accessories onto your body

To remove clothing or accessories from your body

To take someone or something to a place and leave them or it there

To help someone with a task or problem

To help someone with a task or problem

To reach someone or something that is ahead of you

To watch or look after someone or something carefully, to make sure they are safe

To study very hard

To decide to stop working on something for the rest of the day, or to stop an activity and finish it for now

To express great happiness or excitement by jumping up and down

To suddenly become very angry and start shouting

To assemble something by joining its parts, or to create something by combining different elements