Updated on January 06, 2025
by PushtoLearn
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Action Verbs

Action verbs are words that express actions. These actions can be something physical (like “run” or “jump”) or mental (like “think” or “imagine”). They tell the reader or listener what is happening in the sentence. Use this guide to power up your resume.

List of Common Action Verbs


Word

Definition

Example

Run

To move quickly on foot

She runs every morning.

Jump

To push off the ground into the air

He jumped over the puddle.

Sprint

To run at full speed for a short time

The athlete sprinted to the finish line.

Hike

To walk long distances, usually in nature

They hiked through the forest.

Walk

To move at a regular pace by foot

We walk to school every day.

Swim

To move through water using limbs

She swims in the pool on weekends.

Dive

To jump headfirst into water

He dived into the lake.

Climb

To go upward using hands and feet

They climbed the mountain.

Lift

To raise something to a higher position

She lifted the heavy box.

Throw

To propel something with the hand

He threw the ball to his friend.

Catch

To grab and hold something in motion

She caught the flying frisbee.

Kick

To strike with the foot

He kicked the soccer ball into the goal.

Punch

To hit with a closed fist

The boxer punched the bag hard.

Hit

To strike something forcefully

She hit the nail with the hammer.

Dance

To move rhythmically to music

They danced at the party.

Sing

To make musical sounds with the voice

He sings beautifully in the choir.

Play

To engage in a game or activity

The children play in the park.

Drive

To operate a vehicle

She drives to work every day.

Fly

To move through the air

Birds fly south in winter.

Eat

To consume food

We eat lunch together at noon.

Drink

To consume liquids

He drinks water after exercising.

Cook

To prepare food by heating it

She cooks dinner for her family.

Bake

To cook in an oven

He baked a chocolate cake.

Grow

To increase in size or develop

The plants grow quickly in the sun.

Build

To construct or create something

They built a sandcastle on the beach.

Paint

To apply color to a surface

She paints landscapes on weekends.

Write

To form letters or words on a surface

He writes in his journal daily.

Draw

To make a picture using a pen or pencil

She drew a beautiful portrait.

Read

To look at and understand written words

He reads a book before bed.

Study

To learn about a subject by reading or practicing

They study English every evening.

Listen

To give attention to sounds

She listens to music while working.

Speak

To express thoughts verbally

He speaks three languages fluently.

Ride

To travel on or in something (bike, horse, etc.)

She rides her bike to the park.

Action Verbs to Make Your Resume Stand Out

Action Verbs for Leading a Project

Word

Definition

Example

Administer

To manage and oversee the execution of a task or process

She administered the company’s annual budget review.

Arrange

To organize or set up something systematically

He arranged the team’s meeting schedule last week.

Chair

To lead a formal meeting or committee

She chaired the quarterly project review yesterday.

Coordinate

To bring together different parts or people for efficiency

He coordinated the launch of the new software.

Direct

To manage or guide a team or project

She directed the marketing campaign successfully.

Execute

To carry out or put a plan into action

He executed the event flawlessly.

Delegate

To assign tasks or responsibilities to others

She delegated tasks to her team members.

Head

To lead or be in charge of a project

He headed the new product development initiative.

Manage

To take responsibility for controlling or overseeing

She managed the entire project from start to finish.

Operate

To run or control a system or process

He operated the system without any issues.

Orchestrate

To organize and plan all aspects of a complex project

She orchestrated the company's annual conference.

Organize

To arrange and prepare systematically

He organized the charity event last month.

Oversee

To supervise or monitor progress

She oversaw the construction project on site.

Plan

To make detailed arrangements for something in advance

He planned the entire project timeline.

Produce

To create or deliver a final product

She produced a detailed project report.

Program

To set up or design a sequence of tasks or events

He programmed the system updates over the weekend.

Spearhead

To lead an initiative or project

She spearheaded the company’s new sustainability program.

Action Verbs for Envisioning and Bringing a Project to Life

Word

Definition

Example

Build

To construct or develop something from the ground up

She built a strong team to execute the project.

Chart

To outline a plan or strategy

He charted the roadmap for the product launch.

Create

To bring something new into existence

She created a unique design for the marketing campaign.

Design

To plan and structure the components of a project

He designed the layout for the company’s new website.

Develop

To expand or improve upon an idea

She developed a new strategy for customer engagement.

Devise

To invent or come up with a creative solution

He devised an innovative approach to problem-solving.

Found

To establish or start something new

She founded the company’s first mentorship program.

Engineer

To skillfully plan or construct a system or process

He engineered a new workflow to increase efficiency.

Establish

To set up or formalize a structure, system, or organization

She established clear guidelines for the project team.

Formalize

To give a clear and structured form to something

He formalized the project proposal for approval.

Form

To create or organize something

She formed a partnership with a local business.

Formulate

To develop or plan an idea systematically

He formulated a comprehensive business plan.

Implement

To put a plan or idea into action

She implemented the new software across all departments.

Incorporate

To integrate something into an existing system

He incorporated customer feedback into the product design.

Initiate

To begin or launch a new project or activity

She initiated the company’s digital transformation.

Institute

To establish a system, policy, or process

He instituted a new training program for employees.

Introduce

To present or bring something new to a group

She introduced a more efficient way to manage tasks.

Launch

To officially start or release something

He launched a new product line last quarter.

Pioneer

To be the first to develop or lead an initiative

She pioneered the use of AI in their industry.

Propose

To suggest an idea or plan for consideration

He proposed a new strategy to improve sales.

Action Verbs for Increasing Efficiency, Productivity, or Profit (or Reducing Costs/Time)

Word

Definition

Example

Accelerate

To speed up a process or task

She accelerated the product development timeline.

Achieve

To successfully accomplish a goal

He achieved record-breaking sales last quarter.

Advance

To move something forward or improve it

She advanced the company’s digital marketing strategy.

Amplify

To increase or strengthen something

He amplified brand awareness through social media.

Boost

To increase or improve significantly

She boosted productivity by implementing new tools.

Capitalize

To take advantage of opportunities for growth

He capitalized on market trends to increase revenue.

Conserve

To save or use resources efficiently

She conserved company resources by optimizing workflows.

Consolidate

To combine and strengthen efforts or systems

He consolidated multiple teams to improve efficiency.

Decrease

To reduce the size, amount, or impact of something

She decreased production costs by 15%.

Deduct

To subtract or remove an amount

He deducted unnecessary expenses from the budget.

Deliver

To provide results or outcomes as promised

She delivered a 10% increase in customer satisfaction.

Enhance

To improve the quality or value of something

He enhanced the user experience on the website.

Expand

To increase in size, scope, or reach

She expanded the company’s market share in Europe.

Expedite

To speed up the process or completion of something

He expedited the shipping process to meet deadlines.

Further

To help move an initiative or goal forward

She furthered the company’s sustainability efforts.

Gain

To increase in amount or achieve something

He gained new clients through effective networking.

Generate

To produce or create something, such as revenue or ideas

She generated $1M in new business opportunities.

Improve

To make something better

He improved team collaboration through clear communication.

Increase

To make something larger in size, amount, or value

She increased sales by 20% last year.

Lift

To raise or boost something to a higher level

He lifted customer satisfaction ratings significantly.

Maximize

To optimize and achieve the highest potential

She maximized profits by cutting unnecessary expenses.

Outpace

To perform better or faster than others

He outpaced competitors in sales growth.

Reconcile

To resolve differences and bring into agreement

She reconciled financial discrepancies in the accounts.

Reduce

To lower or minimize something

He reduced the time spent on repetitive tasks by 30%.

Save

To conserve resources such as time, money, or effort

She saved the company $50,000 by renegotiating contracts.

Stimulate

To encourage or boost activity or growth

He stimulated customer interest with a new marketing campaign.

Sustain

To maintain a positive state or progress

She sustained high levels of employee engagement.

Yield

To produce results, often profits or benefits

He yielded a significant return on investment.

Action Verbs for Changing or Improving Something

Word

Definition

Example

Centralize

To bring together in one place or under one system

She centralized the company’s data management system.

Clarify

To make something easier to understand

He clarified the project goals for the entire team.

Convert

To change from one form or use to another

She converted paper files into digital records.

Customize

To modify to suit specific needs or preferences

He customized the software for individual users.

Digitize

To convert information into digital form

She digitized the company’s archive of documents.

Integrate

To combine parts to create a unified system

He integrated new tools into the existing workflow.

Merge

To combine two or more entities into one

She merged two departments to improve collaboration.

Modernize

To update something to make it more current or efficient

He modernized the office with the latest technology.

Modify

To make partial changes to something

She modified the training program based on feedback.

Overhaul

To completely change or improve something

He overhauled the company’s customer service system.

Redesign

To change the design or layout of something

She redesigned the website for a better user experience.

Refine

To improve by making small changes

He refined the marketing strategy for better results.

Refocus

To adjust focus on a different goal or priority

She refocused the team’s efforts on the main objectives.

Rehabilitate

To restore something to a better condition

He rehabilitated the old warehouse into a modern workspace.

Remodel

To change the structure or appearance of something

She remodeled the office to create an open layout.

Reorganize

To arrange something in a more effective way

He reorganized the filing system for better access.

Replace

To remove and put something else in its place

She replaced outdated equipment with new machines.

Restructure

To change the structure of something to make it more efficient

He restructured the company’s hierarchy for clarity.

Revamp

To make major improvements or updates to something

She revamped the company’s branding to appeal to a younger audience.

Revitalize

To bring new energy or strength to something

He revitalized the local business district.

Simplify

To make something less complex or easier to understand

She simplified the process for onboarding new employees.

Standardize

To make consistent across all areas or levels

He standardized the reporting procedures company-wide.

Streamline

To make a system or process more efficient

She streamlined production to reduce costs.

Strengthen

To make something stronger or more effective

He strengthened the company’s partnerships with suppliers.

Transform

To completely change something for the better

She transformed the outdated business model.

Update

To bring something to a more recent version or state

He updated the company’s software to the latest version.

Upgrade

To improve the quality or performance of something

She upgraded the office computers to increase speed.

Action Verbs for When You Managed a Team

Word

Definition

Example

Align

To bring people or goals into agreement or harmony

She aligned team objectives with company priorities.

Cultivate

To nurture or develop skills, relationships, or culture

He cultivated a collaborative work environment.

Direct

To manage and oversee tasks or activities

She directed the team through a complex project.

Enable

To provide the means or support for success

He enabled team members to achieve their goals by offering resources.

Facilitate

To make processes easier by organizing or guiding

She facilitated productive discussions during meetings.

Foster

To encourage the growth or development of something

He fostered strong communication within the team.

Guid

To lead or assist someone in achieving a goal

She guided junior employees through their first major tasks.

Hire

To select and bring new employees into a team

He hired skilled professionals to strengthen the team.

Mentor

To offer advice, guidance, and support to help others grow

She mentored new team members to build their confidence.

Mobilize

To organize and prepare a group to take action

He mobilized the team to meet a tight deadline.

Motivate

To inspire or encourage someone to take action

She motivated the team with clear goals and rewards.

Recruit

To attract and select suitable candidates for a role

He recruited top talent to join the department.

Shape

To influence or mold the development of a team

She shaped the team’s work culture around innovation.

Supervise

To oversee the work and performance of a group

He supervised daily operations to ensure smooth progress.

Teach

To instruct or educate others on skills or knowledge

She taught team members how to use the new software.

Traine

To provide learning opportunities to improve skills

He trained employees on the latest safety procedures.

Unify

To bring together team members to work as one

She unified the team under a shared vision.

Unite

To create a sense of togetherness and shared purpose

He united the team to overcome challenges together.

Action Verbs for When You Brought in Partners, Funding, Resources, or Clients

Word

Definition

Example

Acquire

To successfully gain or obtain something valuable

She acquired new clients through targeted outreach.

Close

To finalize a deal, agreement, or transaction

He closed a $1 million funding deal with investors.

Forge

To build or establish strong relationships or partnerships

She forged strategic alliances with industry leaders.

Navigate

To skillfully manage complex negotiations or processes

He navigated challenging discussions with stakeholders.

Negotiate

To reach an agreement through discussion and compromise

She negotiated better terms for the partnership.

Partner

To collaborate or work with another organization or individual

He partnered with a leading tech firm for the project.

Pitch

To present an idea, product, or service to gain interest

She pitched the new product to potential investors.

Secure

To obtain something valuable through effort or negotiation

He secured additional funding for the project.

Sign

To finalize an agreement or contract by obtaining a signature

She signed a deal with a major client.

Source

To identify and obtain necessary resources or supplies

He sourced high-quality materials from local vendors.

Upsell

To persuade a client to purchase additional or higher-value items

She upsold premium services to existing customers.

Action Verbs for When You Supported Customers

Word

Definition

Example

Advise

To provide guidance or suggestions to help customers make decisions

She advised clients on the best investment options.

Advocate

To actively support or represent the customer’s needs

He advocated for a customer-facing policy change.

Coach

To train or guide customers in achieving specific goals

She coached users on how to maximize software features.

Consult

To offer expert advice on specific issues

He consulted with clients to improve their workflows.

Educate

To inform or teach customers about a product or process

She educated customers on the benefits of their service.

Field

To handle or respond to customer inquiries or complaints

He fielded numerous support calls during the launch.

Inform

To provide customers with necessary or important information

She informed clients about changes to the pricing structure.

Recommend

To suggest products, services, or solutions that fit customer needs

He recommended the best package for their business.

Resolve

To solve customer issues or concerns efficiently

She resolved a technical issue within minutes.

Action Verbs for When You Did Research or Analysis

Word

Definition

Example

Analyze

To examine data or information in detail to find patterns

She analyzed customer feedback to improve services.

Assemble

To gather and organize data or information

He assembled key reports for the project proposal.

Assess

To evaluate the quality, value, or significance of something

She assessed the risks involved in the new investment.

Audit

To review and verify records for accuracy

He audited the company’s financial statements.

Calculate

To determine values or figures using mathematical processes

She calculated the budget needed for the campaign.

Compile

To collect and organize information from different sources

He compiled data from multiple research papers.

Discover

To find or learn something new through research

She discovered a new trend in customer behavior.

Evaluate

To assess the strengths and weaknesses of something

He evaluated the performance of the new system.

Examine

To inspect or study something closely

She examined market trends to guide product development.

Explore

To investigate or study an area or idea thoroughly

He explored potential new markets for the product.

Forecast

To predict future outcomes based on data analysis

She forecasted next quarter’s sales figures.

Identify

To recognize and name key factors or issues

He identified areas for improvement in the workflow.

Interpret

To explain the meaning of data or results

She interpreted survey results to guide decisions.

Interview

To collect information by asking questions of individuals

He interviewed stakeholders for project requirements.

Investigate

To carry out a detailed inquiry to uncover facts

She investigated the cause of the system failure.

Map

To visually represent data or processes

He mapped the customer journey to identify pain points.

Measure

To determine the size, amount, or degree of something

She measured the success of the marketing campaign.

Model

To create a representation or simulation of a system

He modeled different financial scenarios.

Project

To estimate or predict future results based on data

She projected a 15% growth in revenue for next year.

Qualify

To determine whether data or results meet specific standards

He qualified the leads based on their potential value.

Quantify

To express data or findings in numerical terms

She quantified the impact of the policy change.

Report

To present findings or results in a structured format

He reported his analysis to the management team.

Survey

To gather data by asking questions or conducting studies

She surveyed customers to understand their needs.

Test

To conduct experiments or trials to verify results

He tested the new software for bugs.

Track

To monitor and record changes or progress over time

She tracked the team’s productivity levels monthly.

Visualize

To create visual representations of data

He visualized the results using graphs and charts.

Action Verbs for When You Communicated

Word

Definition

Example

Author

To write and publish original content

She authored a detailed report on project findings.

Brief

To give concise information or instructions

He briefed the team on the new company policies.

Campaign

To actively promote or advocate for a cause or idea

She campaigned for increased environmental awareness.

Coauthor

To write a document with one or more people

He coauthored an article with his colleague.

Compose

To create written or musical work

She composed a professional email to the client.

Convey

To communicate a message or idea clearly

He conveyed the importance of meeting the deadline.

Convince

To persuade someone to believe or agree

She convinced the board to approve the proposal.

Correspond

To exchange written communication

He corresponded with clients via email.

Counsel

To offer advice or guidance

She counseled the team on resolving conflicts.

Critique

To provide feedback, often suggesting improvements

He critiqued the draft presentation for clarity.

Define

To clearly explain the meaning or scope of something

She defined the project goals during the meeting.

Document

To record information systematically

He documented all changes made to the system.

Draft

To create an initial version of a document

She drafted the press release for review.

Edit

To revise and improve written content

He edited the training manual for clarity.

Illustrate

To explain or make something clear using visual examples

She illustrated her points with charts and graphs.

Lobby

To advocate for a specific cause or policy

He lobbied for increased funding for the project.

Outline

To summarize key points or a plan

She outlined the project timeline during the meeting.

Persuade

To convince someone to take a specific action

He persuaded the client to extend their contract.

Present

To formally deliver information to an audience

She presented the quarterly report to stakeholders.

Promote

To publicize or advocate for something to gain support

He promoted the new product across social media.

Publicize

To spread information to increase awareness

She publicized the event through email and newsletters.

Review

To carefully examine or assess written or spoken content

He reviewed the marketing strategy before approval.

Write

To create written content

She wrote an article for the company’s blog.

Action Verbs for When You Oversaw or Regulated

Word

Definition

Example

Adjudicate

To make a formal judgment or decision

She adjudicated disputes between team members fairly.

Authorize

To give official approval or permission

He authorized the release of the new product design.

Block

To prevent or restrict something from happening

She blocked unauthorized access to the database.

Dispatch

To send out people or items to a specific location or task

He dispatched the maintenance team to fix the issue.

Enforce

To ensure compliance with rules or policies

She enforced company regulations to maintain order.

Ensure

To make certain that something is done or happens

He ensured all safety protocols were followed.

Inspect

To examine something closely for compliance or issues

She inspected the facility to identify any problems.

Itemize

To break down and list components in detail

He itemized the expenses for the finance department.

Monitor

To observe and check progress or performance over time

She monitored the team’s progress on the project.

Screen

To examine and evaluate for suitability or accuracy

He screened job applicants to find the best candidates.

Scrutinize

To examine something in great detail

She scrutinized the contract for hidden clauses.

Verify

To confirm the accuracy or truth of something

He verified all the data before submitting the report.

Action Verbs for When You Achieved Something

Word

Definition

Example

Attain

To achieve or reach a specific goal or milestone

She attained her sales target ahead of schedule.

Complete

To finish a task or project successfully

He completed the training program with top marks.

Demonstrate

To show evidence of ability, skill, or success

She demonstrated her leadership by managing a complex project.

Finish

To bring something to an end

He finished the report before the deadline.

Earn

To gain or receive recognition, money, or status

She earned a promotion after her excellent performance.

Exceed

To go beyond a set limit or expectation

He exceeded the company’s revenue goals for the year.

Outperform

To perform better than others

She outperformed her peers in quarterly evaluations.

Overcome

To successfully deal with or defeat a challenge

He overcame significant obstacles to deliver results.

Reach

To achieve a specific goal or level

She reached her goal of completing the project early.

Showcase

To present or display achievements or skills

He showcased his expertise in the conference presentation.

Succeed

To accomplish a goal or achieve the desired result

She succeeded in launching the new product on time.

Surpass

To exceed expectations or previous achievements

He surpassed last year’s sales record by 20%.

Target

To set and focus on achieving a specific goal

She targeted key accounts and successfully closed deals.

Win

To achieve victory or an award

He won the Employee of the Month award.

Illustration of Action Verbs

Types of Action Verbs

1. Physical Action Verbs

These verbs describe physical activities that you can see or do.

Example Sentence

Action Verb

He kicks the ball.

kicks

They climb the mountain.

climb

We painted the house.

painted

2. Mental Action Verbs

These verbs describe activities happening in the mind, such as thinking or feeling.

Example Sentence

Action Verb

I remember her smile.

remember

She considers her options.

considers

They hope for success.

Hope

Common Errors with Action Verbs

  1. Forgetting to match the verb with the subject:

    • Incorrect: He run every morning.

    • Correct: He runs every morning.

  2. Using the wrong tense:

    • Incorrect: Yesterday, she plays soccer.

    • Correct: Yesterday, she played soccer.

  3. Confusing action verbs with state-of-being verbs:

    • Action verbs show action (e.g., run, think).

    • State-of-being verbs describe existence (e.g., is, was).
      Example:

      • She is happy. (Not an action verb)

      • She jumps with joy. (Action verb)

Rules for Using Action Verbs

  1. Always use the correct tense to show when the action happens (past, present, or future).

    • Present: She reads every day.

    • Past: She read a book yesterday.

    • Future: She will read tomorrow.

  2. Add -s or -es to the verb in the third person singular form (he, she, it) in the present tense.

    • He walks to school.

    • She teaches English.

  3. Use helping verbs like am, is, are, was, were with the present participle (-ing form) to describe ongoing actions.

    • I am reading now.

    • They were playing soccer yesterday.

FAQs About Action Verbs

What is an action verb?

An action verb is a word that shows what someone or something is doing, like “run,” “think,” or “smile.”

How do I identify an action verb in a sentence?

Look for the word that describes the action being performed. For example, in "She writes a letter," the action verb is “writes.”

Can action verbs be used in all tenses?

Yes, action verbs can be used in the past, present, and future tense.

What is the difference between action verbs and state-of-being verbs?

Action verbs show action, while state-of-being verbs (like "is" or "are") describe a state or condition.

What are examples of mental action verbs?

Mental action verbs include words like “believe,” “think,” “understand,” and “hope.”

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