What are action words, and why should you use them?
Well, action verbs, like the list below, convey an action, they move your story forward, they make your characters do something.
Action Verbs are more descriptive, they convey a situation, something the character does. Basically, if your character "is being" something, try to use an action verb instead.
For instance:
Joe is in the car. vs. Joe drives the car. Joe parks the car. Joe starts the car.
There are many more, but if you’re not sure, use your Thesaurus.
Action Verbs |
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abandon abduct abolish abscond abuse accelerate accuse achieve acquire act adapt add address adjust administer advance advise aim allocate analyze answer anticipate apprehend approach appropriate arbitrate arrange arrest ascertain assault assemble assess attack attain audit avert bang bar beat berate bite blast block blow brighten broke buck budget built bump bury bushwhack calculate catch charge chart chase check choke clap clash classify climb clip clutch coach collapse collar collect collide command commandeer communicate compile complete compose compute conduct conserve consolidate construct consult control coordinate counsel count cram crash crawl create creep cripple crouch cut dance dart dash deal decide deck deduct define delegate delineate deliver descend describe design detect determine develop devise diagnose dictate dig direct discard discover display dissect distribute ditch dive divert do dodge dominate dope douse draft drag drain |
dramatize drape draw dress drill drink drip drop drown drug dry duel dunk ease edge edit eject elevate elope elude emerge endure engage enjoin ensnare enter equip erupt escape establish estimate evacuate evade evaluate evict examine exert exhale exit expand expedite expel explode experiment explain expose extend extirpate extract extricate fade fake fall falter fan fast fear feed feel fend fight file fill finance find finger fix flag flap flash flatten flaunt flay flee flick flinch fling flip flit float flog flounder flout flush fly fondle force formulate fornicate found fumble furnish gain gallop gather generate gesture get give gnaw gossip gouge grab grapple grasp greet grind grip gripe grope grow growl grunt guide gyrate hack hail hammer handle hang harass haul head help hesitate hide hijack hit hitch hobble hoist hold |
hover hug hurl hurtle hypothesize identify ignore illustrate imitate implement improve improvise inch increase indict induce inflict influence inform inject injure insert inspect inspire install instigate institute interchange interpret interview invade invent inventory investigate isolate jab jam jar jeer jerk jimmy jingle jolt judge jump keel kibitz kick kidnap kill kneel knife lash launch lead lean leap learn lecture left level lick limp listen log lunge lurch maim maintain make manage mangle manipulate march mark massage maul measure meddle mediate meet mentor mimic mingle mobilize mock model molest monitor motivate mourn move mumble murder muster mutilate nab nag nail needle negotiate nick nip observe obtain occupy offer officiate operate order organize oversee pack paddle page pander panic parachute parade paralyze park parry party pass pat patrol pause paw peel peep penetrate perceive |
perform persuade photograph pick picket pile pilot pin pinch pirate pitch placate plan play plod plow plunge poke polish pore pose pounce pout pray predict preen prepare prescribe present presented preside primp process prod produce program project promote prompt proofread propel protect provide provoke pry publicize pull pummel pump punch purchase pursue push question quit race raid raise rally ram ransack rape rattle ravage rave read realize receive recline recommend reconcile reconnoiter record recoup recruit redeem reduce reel refer regain rejoin relate relax relent render repair repel report represent repulse research resign resist resolve respond restore retaliate retreat retrieve reveal review ride rip rise risk rob rock roll rub run rush sail salute sap save saw scale scamper scan scare scatter scavenge schedule scold scoop scoot score scour scout scrape |
scrawl scream screw scrub scruff scuffle sculpt scuttle seal search seduce seize select sell sense serve set sever sew shake shanghai shape sharpen shave shear shell shield shift shiver shock shoot shorten shout shove shovel show shun shut sidestep sigh signal sip sit size skid skim skip skirt slacken slam slap slash slay slide slug smack smear smell smuggle snap snare snarl snatch snicker sniff snitch snoop snub snuff snuggle soak sock soil solve spear spell spike spin splatter splice split spot spray spread spring sprint spurn spy squeak stack stagger stamp stand start startle steal steer step stick stiffen stifle stomp stop strangle strap strike strip stroke struck stub study stuff stumble stun subdue submerge submit suck summarize summon supervise supply support surrender survey suspend swagger swallow swap sway swear swerve |
swim swing swipe switch synthesize systematize tackle take tap target taste taunt teach tear tease telephone terrorize test thrash thread threaten throw tickle tie tilt tip toss touch tout track train transcribe transfer translate trap tread treat trip trot trounce try tuck tug tumble turn tutor twist type understand undertake undo undress unfold unify unite untangle unwind update usher utilize vacate vanish vanquish vault vent violate wade walk wander ward watch wave wedge weed weigh whack whip whirl whistle wield wiggle withdraw work wreck wrench wrestle write yank yell yelp yield zap zip |