Action verbs are the driving force of everyday English. They help us describe what people do, how things move, and how actions happen in real life. Words like run, write, jump, and cook appear in daily conversations, school lessons, stories, and instructions. Learning action verbs improves speaking, reading, writing, and understanding English in a natural way.
What Are Action Verbs in English?
Action verbs are words that show an action, movement, or activity. They tell us what the subject is doing.
For example:
- She runs every morning.
- They build a house.
Action verbs are used in spoken English, written sentences, instructions, and stories. They make language clear, active, and easy to understand.
Common Action Verbs in English with Pictures
These are some of the most used action verbs in daily English.
Run
Move fast on feet, often used for exercise or reaching places quickly
Eat
Put food in mouth and swallow to get energy
Drink
Take liquid into the mouth and swallow
Read
Look at words and understand their meaning
Write
Form letters or words on paper or screen
Speak
Say words to express thoughts or ideas
Walk
Move slowly using feet, usually for short distances
Play
Do an activity for fun or enjoyment
Open
Move something to allow access inside
Close
Shut something to stop access
Sit
Rest body on a chair or surface
Stand
Be upright on feet
Types of Action Verbs with Meanings
Physical Action Verbs
These verbs describe body movements and physical activities.
- Jump: push body into the air using legs
- Run: move quickly using legs
- Walk: move forward at a slow speed
- Climb: move up using hands and feet
- Kick: hit something using the foot
- Throw: send something through the air with hand
- Catch: stop and hold a moving object
- Push: move something away using force
- Pull: bring something closer using force
- Lift: raise something to a higher position
- Bend: move body part into a curved position
- Stretch: extend arms or legs to full length
Daily Routine Action Verbs
These verbs are used in everyday life and habits.
- Wake: stop sleeping and open eyes
- Sleep: rest body and mind at night
- Brush: clean teeth or hair using a brush
- Wash: clean body or objects with water
- Wear: have clothes on the body
- Cook: prepare food using heat
- Clean: remove dirt from a place or object
- Shop: buy items from stores
- Drive: control a car or vehicle
- Relax: rest body and mind
- Work: do a job or task
- Rest: stop activity to regain energy
Communication Action Verbs
These verbs help express ideas and feelings.
- Speak: say words clearly to others
- Talk: have a conversation with someone
- Ask: request information or help
- Answer: reply to a question
- Explain: make something clear and easy to understand
- Tell: give information or instructions
- Call: contact someone by phone
- Listen: pay attention to sounds or speech
- Shout: speak loudly
- Whisper: speak very quietly
Learning and Thinking Action Verbs
These verbs relate to the mind and learning process.
- Learn: gain new knowledge or skills
- Study: spend time learning a subject
- Think: use mind to form ideas
- Understand: know the meaning of something
- Remember: keep information in the mind
- Forget: fail to remember something
- Know: have information or awareness
- Decide: choose after thinking
- Plan: think about future actions
- Practice: repeat actions to improve skills
Work and Study Action Verbs
These verbs are common in schools and workplaces.
- Write: create text using pen or keyboard
- Read: understand written information
- Draw: make pictures using pencil or pen
- Build: make something by joining parts
- Fix: repair something broken
- Use: apply something for a purpose
- Finish: complete a task
- Start: begin an activity
- Help: give support to someone
- Check: look at something carefully
Sports and Outdoor Action Verbs
These verbs are used in games and outdoor activities.
- Play: take part in a game or sport
- Run: move fast during sports
- Score: get points in a game
- Swim: move through water using arms and legs
- Ride: sit and control a bike or animal
- Hit: strike something with force
- Train: practise to improve skills
- Compete: try to win against others
- Win: achieve victory
- Lose: fail to win
Home and Kitchen Action Verbs
These verbs are common at home and in cooking.
- Cook: prepare meals using heat
- Bake: cook food in an oven
- Boil: heat liquid until bubbles appear
- Cut: divide something using a knife
- Mix: combine ingredients together
- Serve: give food to others
- Clean: remove dirt from home areas
- Organise: arrange items neatly
- Decorate: make a place look nice
- Repair: fix broken household items
Travel and Movement Action Verbs
These verbs describe movement and travel.
- Go: move from one place to another
- Come: move towards a place or person
- Arrive: reach a destination
- Leave: go away from a place
- Travel: go to different places
- Enter: go inside a place
- Exit: go out of a place
- Move: change position
- Stop: end movement
- Return: go back to a place
Action Verbs Examples in Sentences
Here’s the list of some important action words with examples in sentences:
- Run: I run to the bus stop every morning to catch the bus.
- Eat: We usually eat dinner together after work.
- Drink: Please drink some water if you feel tired.
- Read: I read a short story before going to bed.
- Write: She writes her homework in a notebook.
- Speak: He speaks clearly during the meeting.
- Walk: Let’s walk to the nearby shop after lunch.
- Play: The children play in the park every evening.
- Open: Can you open the window for fresh air?
- Close: Please close the door when you leave.
- Sit: You can sit here while you wait.
- Stand: We stand in line to buy tickets.
Conclusion
Action verbs are used in daily conversations, school lessons, instructions, and stories. By learning these 100 action verbs, you can describe actions clearly and speak English with more confidence. Regular practice with simple sentences, pictures, and real-life examples makes learning faster and more enjoyable.
FAQs about Action Verbs
What is an action verb?
An action verb shows what a person, animal, or thing does. Words like run, eat, write, speak, walk, and play describe actions in sentences.
What are the 20 action verbs?
Some common action verbs are run, walk, eat, drink, read, write, speak, listen, play, open, close, sit, stand, jump, work, study, cook, clean, drive, sleep.
What are 50 action verbs?
Examples of 50 action verbs include run, walk, eat, drink, read, write, speak, listen, play, open, close, sit, stand, jump, climb, swim, drive, cook, bake, clean, wash, work, study, learn, think, understand, remember, forget, ask, answer, call, help, build, fix, use, start, finish, watch, look, travel, arrive, leave, move, stop, push, pull, lift, throw, catch.
What are physical action verbs in English?
Physical action verbs describe body movement, such as run, jump, walk, climb, push, pull, throw, and lift. These verbs show clear physical activity.
What are daily routine action verbs?
Daily routine action verbs describe everyday habits like wake, sleep, eat, drink, wash, brush, work, and relax. They are common in daily conversation.
What are communication action verbs?
Communication action verbs show how people share ideas, such as speak, talk, ask, answer, explain, tell, listen, and call.
What are learning and thinking action verbs?
Learning and thinking action verbs describe mental actions like learn, study, think, understand, remember, decide, and plan. These verbs are often used in school and work.
Read More
