Ahh … verbs!
They carry your character from place to place, and from predicament to predicament.
They put the action in your tale.
They’re the engine that makes your story *go*.
But verbs can cut both ways, can’t they?
No matter how exciting your soccer-playing, Supermom, international spy — who also happens to be President of a first-world nation — seems, there will be plenty of time when she just “says” stuff.
And even when her world “explodes,” it will start to sound commonplace after the 10th or 11th time.
What you need is a way to spice up the movement in your story — something to keep the action fresh and, well, moving.
Active verbs, in other words. And plenty of them.
To help you out, I’ve compiled a list of 173 of the most active verbs you’ll find and brought them together below. Not only that, but they’ve brought along about 1300 of their friends — spicy synonyms that will add even more pep to your prose.
I used two rules for making this list:
1) All the verbs had to be active (duh!)
2) No repeats, either in the main words or the synonyms
In the end, that leaves you with nearly 1500 verbs to help bring your writing to life.
Enjoy. Or should I say, “savor”?
[expand title=”achieve”]
- do
- enact
- reach
[/expand][expand title=”advertise”]
- announce
- bill
- call attention to
- make known
- make public
- promulgate
- publicize
- trumpet
[/expand]
[expand title=”agree”]
- accept
- acknowledge
- comply
- concur
- consent
- nod
[/expand]
[expand title=”allocate”]
- allot
- apportion
- assign
- dish out
- dole out
- give out
[/expand]
[expand title=”analyze”]
- look over
[/expand]
[expand title=”answer”]
- comeback
- defend
- deny
[/expand]
[expand title=”appear”]
- arise
- arrive
- bloom
- develop
- emerge
- flash
- flower
- manifest
- materialize
- show
- spawn
- surface
[/expand]
[expand title=”appraise”]
- gauge
- price
- quote
- rate
- size up
- value
[/expand]
[expand title=”approve”]
- agree to
- assent to
- back
- bless
- consent to
- endorse
- recommend
- rubber-stamp
- subscribe to
[/expand]
[expand title=”argue”]
- allege
- assert
- bicker
- contend
- disagree
- dispute
- insist
- reason
- squabble
- wrangle
[/expand]
[expand title=”ask”]
- cross-examine
- demand
- grill
- inquire
- interrogate
- needle
- plead
- pose
- proposition
- query
- question
- quiz
- request
- solicit
[/expand]
[expand title=”attack”]
- ambush
- assail
- assault
- barrage
- batter
- battle
- beat
- beset
- bombard
- charge
- clobber
- combat
- hammer
- molest
- overwhelm
- raid
- rush
- smite
- storm
- strike
- waylay
[/expand]
[expand title=”attempt”]
- chance
- embark
- endeavor
- gamble
- seek
- shot
- strive
- tackle
- try
- undertake
- venture
[/expand]
[expand title=”balance”]
- assess
- compare
- counteract
- equal
- evaluate
- level
- neutralize
- poise
- stabilize
- steady
[/expand]
[expand title=”break”]
- burst
- bust
- crack
- damage
- explode
- fracture
- fragment
- pulverize
- rend
- rupture
- shatter
- smash
- snap
- splinter
- tear
[/expand]
[expand title=”bring”]
- carry
- convey
- deliver
- fetch
- gather
- guide
- import
- lug
- pack
- pick up
- retrieve
- return
- tote
[/expand]
[expand title=”build”]
- construct
- create
- erect
- fashion
- firm
- form
- fortify
- frame
- layer
- raise
- reinforce
- shape
- stack
[/expand]
[expand title=”bump”]
- butt
- clatter
- jar
- jolt
- jostle
- knock
- nudge
- rap
- slam
- tap
- thump
- whack
[/expand]
[expand title=”caclulate”]
- anticipate
- figure
- intend
- mean
[/expand]
[expand title=”call”]
- bawl
- bellow
- exclaim
- hail
- holler
- proclaim
- roar
- scream
- shout
- signal
- summon
- utter
- yell
[/expand]
[expand title=”catalog”]
- index
- inventory
- record
- tally
[/expand]
[expand title=”categorize”]
- assort
- pigeonhole
- typecast
[/expand]
[expand title=”change”]
- adapt
- adjust
- alter
- blur
- distort
- evolve
- fluctuate
- flux
- modify
- mutate
- reform
- shift
- switch
- transform
- twist
- vary
- warp
[/expand]
[expand title=”chart”]
- delineate
- lay out
- map out
- outline
- sketch
[/expand]
[expand title=”chase”]
- case
- follow
- hound
- hunt
- pursue
- shadow
- stalk
- track
- trail
[/expand]
[expand title=”choose”]
- determine
- draw
- opt
- pluck
- prefer
- select
- vote
- winnow
[/expand]
[expand title=”climb”]
- ascend
- crest
- heave
- mount
- rise
- scale
- scramble
- shimmy
- spring
- top
[/expand]
[expand title=”close”]
- batten
- cage
- fasten
- fold
- lock down
- plug
- seal
- secure
- sheathe
- shut
- shutter
[/expand]
[expand title=”coach”]
- school
[/expand]
[expand title=”code”]
- encrypt
[/expand]
[expand title=”collect”]
- accrue
- amass
- assemble
- cache
- compile
- corral
- garner
- group
- harvest
- hoard
- reap
- save
- scrape
- stockpile
- store
[/expand]
[expand title=”come”]
- advance
- approach
- attend
- converge
- meet
- show up
[/expand]
[expand title=”complete”]
- actualize
- cap
- consummate
- crown
- supplement
- wrap up
[/expand]
[expand title=”compose”]
- concoct
- devise
- make up
- think up
[/expand]
[expand title=”compress”]
- abbreviate
- constrict
- restrict
- shorten
[/expand]
[expand title=”conduct”]
- manage
- orchestrate
- oversee
- regulate
- supervise
[/expand]
[expand title=”contact”]
- communicate with
- get in touch with
- notify
[/expand]
[expand title=”convert”]
- bring to god
- evangelize
- metamorphose
- proselytize
- re-educate
- transfigure
- transmute
[/expand]
[expand title=”counsel”]
- admonish
- caution
- confab
- kibitz
- tip
- tout
- urge
[/expand]
[expand title=”cover”]
- blanket
- bury
- cloak
- clothe
- cloud
- conceal
- crust
- curtain
- disguise
- enclose
- envelop
- film
- mask
- obscure
- screen
- shade
- shelter
- shield
- shroud
- smother
- veil
- wrap
[/expand]
[expand title=”critique”]
- appreciate
- comment
- criticize
[/expand]
[expand title=”cross”]
- bridge
- cut over
- ford
- glide
- pass
- traverse
[/expand]
[expand title=”cry”]
- bray
- cheer
- hoot
- howl
- mewl
- screech
- shriek
- squall
- squeal
- trill
- wail
- whimper
- whoop
- yammer
- yelp
[/expand]
[expand title=”customize”]
- contrive
- custom-make
- personalize
- tailor
- tailor-make
[/expand]
[expand title=”cut”]
- axe
- carve
- chip
- chop
- cleave
- crop
- dissect
- divide
- hack
- hew
- nick
- pierce
- prune
- saw
- score
- sever
- shave
- shear
- slash
- slice
- snip
- thin
- trim
[/expand]
[expand title=”decide”]
- adjudge
- adjudicate
- arbitrate
[/expand]
[expand title=”demonstrate”]
- authenticate
- exhibit
- indicate
- manifest
- testify to
[/expand]
[expand title=”diagnose”]
- distinguish
- pinpoint
[/expand]
[expand title=”dig”]
- burrow
- core
- delve
- dredge up
- drill
- excavate
- exhume
- gouge
- hollow
- mine
- rout
- tunnel
- unearth
[/expand]
[expand title=”direct”]
- accompany
- administer
- command
- control
- escort
- govern
- usher
[/expand]
[expand title=”drag”]
- haul
- pull
- tow
- transport
- trawl
- tug
- yank
- yarn
[/expand]
[expand title=”educate”]
- cultivate
- discipline
- enlighten
- inform
- rear
- tutor
[/expand]
[expand title=”eliminate”]
- destroy
- do away with
- eradicate
- get rid of
- put an end to
- remove
[/expand]
[expand title=”enforce”]
- bring to bear
- impose
- prosecute
[/expand]
[expand title=”enlist”]
- engage
- enroll in
- get
- join up with
- sign up for
- volunteer for
[/expand]
[expand title=”enter”]
- access
- barge in
- board
- burst into
- drop in
- encroach
- infiltrate
- intrude
- invade
- penetrate
- trespass
- wander
[/expand]
[expand title=”escape”]
- avoid
- bail
- bolt
- clear out
- dodge
- duck
- elude
- evade
- flee
- sidestep
- slip out
- sneak away
[/expand]
[expand title=”establish”]
- authorize
- base
- domiciliate
- found
- inaugurate
[/expand]
[expand title=”execute”]
- bring about
- carry out
- engineer
- put into effect
- render
- stage
[/expand]
[expand title=”experiment”]
- conduct research
[/expand]
[expand title=”explain”]
- account for
- describe
- make clear
- put into words
- spell out
[/expand]
[expand title=”fall”]
- buckle
- collapse
- crash
- crumple
- dive
- drop
- pitch
- plummet
- plunge
- sink
- slant
- slip
- slump
- spill
- stumble
- topple
- trip
- tumble
[/expand][expand title=”fight”]
- brawl
- clash
- duel
- feud
- grapple
- joust
- quarrel
- scrap
- scuffle
- skirmish
- spar
- struggle
- tussle
- war
- wrestle
[/expand]
[expand title=”file”]
- alphabetize
- docket
- slot
- tabulate
[/expand]
[expand title=”find”]
- acquire
- catch
- detect
- discover
- expose
- locate
- notice
- obtain
- reveal
- solve
- uncover
[/expand]
[expand title=”fit”]
- apply
- arrange
- blend
- cram
- force
- implant
- jam
- lock
- mold
- nest
- place
- pound
- press
- rig
- set
- stuff
- wedge
[/expand]
[expand title=”fix”]
- cobble
- correct
- cure
- darn
- doctor
- improve
- maintain
- mend
- patch
- rebuild
- refit
- renovate
- repair
- restore
- service
- tinker
[/expand]
[expand title=”forecast”]
- foresee
- foretell
- predict
- prognosticate
- prophesy
[/expand]
[expand title=”formulate”]
- hatch
- thunk up
[/expand]
[expand title=”generate”]
- cause
- engender
- provoke
[/expand]
[expand title=”get”]
- accomplish
- attain
- earn
- elicit
- extract
- gain
- inherit
- procure
- receive
- take
- win
[/expand]
[expand title=”give”]
- award
- bequeath
- bestow
- confer
- dispense
- distribute
- donate
- gift
- grant
- hand
- offer
- parcel out
- present
- sacrifice
- toss
[/expand]
[expand title=”grab”]
- apprehend
- appropriate
- arrest
- claim
- clutch
- grip
- hook
- net
- seize
- snag
- snap up
- snatch
- steal
- wrench
[/expand]
[expand title=”help”]
- advise
- advocate
- aid
- assist
- befriend
- boost
- comfort
- encourage
- further
- heal
- intercede
- nurture
- relieve
- serve
- support
[/expand]
[expand title=”hide”]
- camouflage
- hole up
- protect
- smuggle
- squirrel away
- stash
- stow
[/expand]
[expand title=”hit”]
- bash
- clap
- deck
- flog
- poke
- punch
- ram
- slap
- slug
- smack
- smoke
- swat
- swing
- wallop
[/expand]
[expand title=”hold”]
- bolster
- clasp
- clench
- cradle
- grasp
- handle
- prop
- shoulder
- squeeze
[/expand]
[expand title=”host”]
- have
- put on
[/expand]
[expand title=”hurry”]
- bustle
- cruise
- dash
- expedite
- hasten
- hustle
- pelt
- quicken
- scamper
- scurry
- scuttle
- slide
- speed
- sweep
- zip
[/expand]
[expand title=”illustrate”]
- clarify
- depict
- embody
- emphasize
- epitomize
- highlight
- illuminate
- mirror
- personify
- point up
- portray
- spotlight
- typify
[/expand]
[expand title=”implement”]
- fulfill
[/expand]
[expand title=”inspect”]
- check
- peruse
- vet
[/expand]
[expand title=”install”]
- ensconce
- induct
- insert
- instate
- site
- situate
- station
[/expand]
[expand title=”instruct”]
- enjoin
- mandate
- prime
- upskill
[/expand]
[expand title=”integrate”]
- accommodate
- assimilate
- conform
- consolidate
- coordinate
- desegregate
- harmonize
- incorporate
- mesh
- unify
[/expand]
[expand title=”interview”]
- have a dialogue with
- have a discussion with
- talk to
[/expand]
[expand title=”join”]
- add
- adhere
- affix
- attach
- cement
- combine
- couple
- fuse
- glue
- graft
- hinge
- knit
- link
- marry
- meld
- merge
- pair
- pin
- seam
- splice
- staple
- stitch
- tether
- unite
- weave
- weld
[/expand]
[expand title=”judge”]
- decree
- moderate
- pronounce
- rule
[/expand]
[expand title=”jump”]
- bounce
- bound
- hop
- hurdle
- leap
- leapfrog
- lurch
- pounce
- skip
- surge
- trounce
- vault
[/expand]
[expand title=”kick”]
- boot
- dropkick
- punt
[/expand]
[expand title=”know”]
- discern
- feel
- identify
- intuit
- perceive
- realize
- sense
- understand
[/expand]
[expand title=”lay”]
- deposit
- lodge
- plant
- position
- put
- rest
- seat
- settle
- spread
[/expand]
[expand title=”lead”]
- escort
- lead the way
- pilot
- shepherd
- steer
[/expand]
[expand title=”leave”]
- abandon
- defect
- depart
- disappear
- ditch
- evacuate
- exit
- forsake
- maroon
- quit
- retire
- scram
- set forth
- take off
- vacate
- withdraw
[/expand]
[expand title=”lecture”]
- berate
- chide
- declaim
- discourse
- expatiate
- hold forth
- make a speech
- rebuke
- reprimand
- reproach
- reprove
- scold
- talk
- upbraid
[/expand]
[expand title=”lessen”]
- abate
- bleed
- blunt
- cull
- curb
- curtail
- cut back
- dampen
- decrease
- deplete
- diminish
- dwindle
- evaporate
- fade
- lighten
- limit
- minimize
- mitigate
- reduce
- shrink
- shrivel
- slacken
- taper
- thin out
- wane
- weaken
[/expand]
[expand title=”lift”]
- crane
- elevate
- heft
- hike
- hoist
- jack up
- raise/rise
- uphold
- winch
[/expand]
[expand title=”listen”]
- eavesdrop
- hear
- heed
- mind
- monitor
- overhear
- tune in
[/expand]
[expand title=”look”]
- behold
- browse
- eye
- focus
- gawk
- glance
- glimpse
- leer
- ogle
- peek
- peep
- scan
- see
- squint
- stare
[/expand]
[expand title=”make”]
- beget
- brew
- conceive
- design
- forge
- invent
- produce
- sculpt
[/expand]
[expand title=”market”]
- hawk
- merchandise
- peddle
- retail
- sell
- trade
- vend
[/expand]
[expand title=”measure”]
- compute
- count
- meter
- plumb
- quantify
- size
[/expand]
[expand title=”mediate”]
- conciliate
- effect
- effectuate
- make peace
- negotiate
- reconcile
- referee
- umpire
[/expand]
[expand title=”motivate”]
- influence
- inspire
- prompt
- spur
- stimulate
[/expand]
[expand title=”move”]
- budge
- displace
- fiddle
- jiggle
- maneuver
- pop out
- relocate
- work at
[/expand]
[expand title=”need”]
- exact
- require
[/expand]
[expand title=”open”]
- bare
- display
- expand
- free
- gape
- peel
- release
- unbolt
- uncork
- undo
- unfasten
- unfold
- unfurl
- unhinge
- unlock
- unroll
- unzip
- widen
[/expand]
[expand title=”order”]
- adjure
- buy
- call for
- tell
- warn
[/expand]
[expand title=”organize”]
- classify
- codify
- marshal
- put in order
- put straight
- sort
- systematize
[/expand]
[expand title=”overhaul”]
- fix up
- recondition
- refurbish
[/expand]
[expand title=”perform”]
- function
[/expand]
[expand title=”persuade”]
- bring around
- cajole
- coax
- coerce
- convince
- entice
- induce
- inveigle
- lure
- prevail on
- tempt
- wheedle
- win over
[/expand]
[expand title=”photograph”]
- reproduce
- shoot
- take a picture
[/expand]
[expand title=”pick”]
- bag
[/expand]
[expand title=”plan”]
- work out
[/expand]
[expand title=”play”]
- act
- caper
- cavort
- clown
- dabble
- dally
- entertain
- flirt
- frisk
- frolic
- gambol
- joke
- kid
- rejoice
- romp
- tease
- toy
[/expand]
[expand title=”prepare”]
- draw up
- gird
- strengthen
[/expand]
[expand title=”print”]
- circulate
- engrave
- etch
- impress
- imprint
- issue
- mark
- reprint
- run off
- send to press
[/expand][expand title=”process”]
- deal with
- dispose of
- refine
- treat
[/expand]
[expand title=”program”]
- line up
- timetable
[/expand]
[expand title=”project”]
- calculate
- cantilever
- estimate
- expect
- extend
- protrude
- reckon
- shed
- shine
[/expand]
[expand title=”promote”]
- contribute to
- forward
- foster
[/expand]
[expand title=”propose”]
- come up with
- nominate
- suggest
- table
[/expand]
[expand title=”provide”]
- furnish
- lend
- yield
[/expand]
[expand title=”purchase”]
- invest
- redeem
- shop
[/expand]
[expand title=”push”]
- bulldoze
- crowd
- crush
- drive
- elbow
- impel
- muscle
- prod
- propel
- shove
- squish
- strain
- thrust
[/expand]
[expand title=”recruit”]
- call up
- conscript
- draft
- hire
- levy
- mobilize
- muster
- muster in
[/expand]
[expand title=”register”]
- enroll
- list
- sign up
[/expand]
[expand title=”remember”]
- call to mind
- flash back to
- memorialize
- recall
- recognize
- recollect
- reminisce about
- revive
- think back to
[/expand]
[expand title=”research”]
- look into
[/expand]
[expand title=”reserve”]
- defer
- preserve
- retain
- set aside
- withhold
[/expand]
[expand title=”resolve”]
- clear up
- iron out
[/expand]
[expand title=”respond”]
- behave
- come back
- counter
- react
- reciprocate
- rejoin
- reply
- retort
[/expand]
[expand title=”review”]
- debrief
- reassess
- recapitulate
- reconsider
- reevaluate
- reexamine
- revise
[/expand]
[expand title=”ride”]
- coast
- gallop
- jockey
- surf
[/expand]
[expand title=”rub”]
- brush
- buff
- caress
- chafe
- graze
- grind
- knead
- lather
- massage
- nuzzle
- polish
- scour
- scrub
- smear
- smooth
- smudge
- stroke
- wipe
[/expand]
[expand title=”run”]
- amble
- barrel
- canter
- dart
- fly
- jet
- jog
- lope
- race
- scoot
- sprint
- stampede
- streak
- trot
[/expand]
[expand title=”say”]
- address
- articulate
- banter
- blab
- blubber
- chant
- chat
- converse
- curse
- dictate
- discuss
- drawl
- drone
- jabber
- jibber
- mouth
- murmur
- mutter
- rant
- rave
- snarl
- speak
- spout
- sputter
- stammer
- stutter
- swear
[/expand]
[expand title=”schedule”]
- appoint
[/expand]
[expand title=”schedule”]
- book
- card
- set up
- slate
[/expand]
[expand title=”search”]
- examine
- explore
- ferret
- forage
- investigate
- probe
- quest
- ransack
- rummage
- scout
- sift
[/expand]
[expand title=”send”]
- broadcast
- cast
- channel
- publish
- radiate
- relay
- route
- ship
- transfer
- transmit
- volley
- wire
[/expand]
[expand title=”shake”]
- agitate
- churn
- convulse
- flutter
- jerk
- judder
- palpitate
- quake
- quaver
- quiver
- rattle
- ripple
- shiver
- shudder
- slosh
- spasm
- squirm
- thrash
- throb
- totter
- tremble
- tremor
- twinge
- twitch
- vibrate
[/expand]
[expand title=”sit”]
- crouch
- flop
- huddle
- hunker
- laze
- lounge
- park
- perch
- plop
- recline
- relax
- roost
- slouch
- sprawl
- squat
- straddle
[/expand]
[expand title=”spearhead”]
- originate
- quarterback
[/expand]
[expand title=”split”]
- halve
- part
- rip
- separate
- slit
- sunder
[/expand]
[expand title=”start”]
- activate
- begin
- birth
- commence
- dawn
- erupt
- initiate
- launch
- pioneer
- sally
- set out
[/expand]
[expand title=”stop”]
- belay
- cease
- conclude
- desist
- discontinue
- end
- finish
- freeze
- halt
- hitch
- pause
- refrain
- rein
- stall
- suspend
- terminate
[/expand]
[expand title=”submit”]
- abide
- acceed
- acquiesce
- appease
- cede
- concede
- humor
- relinquish
- surrender
- tolerate
- truckle
[/expand]
[expand title=”succeed”]
- benefit
- overcome
- prevail
- prosper
- thrive
- triumph
[/expand]
[expand title=”supply”]
- afford
- cater
- endow
- equip
- fill
- hand over
- turn over
[/expand]
[expand title=”test”]
- tax
[/expand]
[expand title=”throw”]
- catapult
- chuck
- discharge
- fire
- fling
- flip
- hurl
- lob
- peg
- sling
[/expand]
[expand title=”touch”]
- dab
- finger
- fondle
- glove
- palm
- pat
- pet
- tickle
[/expand]
[expand title=”train”]
- aim
- exercise
- ground
- learn
- point
[/expand]
[expand title=”translate”]
- decipher
- decode
- express
- gloss
- paraphrase
- rephrase
- reword
[/expand]
[expand title=”trap”]
- bind
- capture
- chain
- corner
- entangle
- handcuff
- imprison
- pinch
- restrain
- shackle
- snare
- surround
[/expand]
[expand title=”turn”]
- bend
- circle
- crank
- curl
- fork
- lean
- loop
- pivot
- revolve
- rotate
- round
- spin
- sway
- swerve
- swirl
- swivel
- tilt
- twirl
- whirl
[/expand]
[expand title=”update”]
- amend
- modernize
- refresh
- rejuvenate
- renew
[/expand]
[expand title=”upgrade”]
- ameliorate
- make better
[/expand]
[expand title=”use”]
- adopt
- employ
- manipulate
- operate
- practice
- utilize
- wield
- work
[/expand]
[expand title=”validate”]
- certify
- confirm
- corroborate
- legalize
- legitimize
- ratify
- substantiate
[/expand]
[expand title=”verify”]
- double-check
- find out
- justify
- prove
[/expand]
[expand title=”visit”]
- call on
- court
- frequent
- haunt
- tour
[/expand]
[expand title=”volunteer”]
- come forward
- step forward
- tender
[/expand]
[expand title=”wait”]
- bide
- delay
- dwell
- hang out
- hesitate
- hover
- idle
- lag
- linger
- loiter
- procrastinate
- remain
- stand
- stay
- tarry
[/expand]
[expand title=”walk”]
- clomp
- clump
- creep
- limp
- lumber
- march
- mosey
- pace
- pad
- parade
- plod
- prowl
- roam
- saunter
- shuffle
- slink
- slog
- sneak
- stamp
- stride
- stroll
- strut
- swagger
- tiptoe
- toddle
- tramp
- trample
- trudge
- waddle
[/expand]
[expand title=”want”]
- ache
- covet
- crave
- desire
- dream
- hunger
- long for
- lust
- pine
- thirst
- wish
- yearn
[/expand]
[expand title=”wash”]
- bathe
- clean
- cleanse
- freshen up
- launder
- rinse
- shampoo
- shower
- sluice
- soak
- soap
- swab
[/expand]
[expand title=”watch”]
- contemplate
- keep tabs
- note
- observe
- regard
- scope
- scrutinize
- spot
- spy
- survey
- view
- witness
[/expand]
[expand title=”whisper”]
- confide
- mumble
- wheeze
[/expand]
[expand title=”wonder”]
- consider
- debate
- doubt
- meditate
- mull
- muse
- ponder
- puzzle
- ruminate
- speculate
- study
- think
- weigh
[/expand]
[expand title=”write”]
- communicate
- correspond
- dash off
- jot down
- log
- pen
- put down
- take down
[/expand]