A useful list of action verbs in English with pictures and example sentences. Verbs are vital in any language and English is no different, however there are often so many that it can become very confusing. For this reason, we have broken the English verbs down into more manageable chunks. In this section, you will be looking at verbs that are used to describe an action. These verbs will help you in being able to construct a sentence and will get you well on your way to having a rich vocabulary of English verbs.
Action Verbs
Learn these action verbs to improve and enhance your vocabulary about verbs in English.
Common Action Verbs List
- Ride
- Sit down
- Stand up
- Fight
- Laugh
- Read
- Play
- Listen
- Cry
- Think
- Sing
- Watch TV
- Dance
- Turn on
- Turn off
- Win
- Fly
- Cut
- Throw away
- Sleep
- Close
- Open
- Write
- Give
- Jump
- Eat
- Drink
- Cook
- Wash
- Wait
- Climb
- Talk
- Crawl
- Dream
- Dig
- Clap
- Knit
- Sew
- Smell
- Kiss
- Hug
- Snore
- Bathe
- Bow
- Paint
- Dive
- Ski
- Stack
- Buy
- Shake
Related: A big list of verbs in English and action verbs in English grammar.
List of Common Action Verbs with Pictures and Examples
Ride
It’s too far to ride to your grandmother’s; you’d better take the bus.
Sit down
I just want to sit down and relax.
Stand up
She didn’t even have the strength to stand up.
Fight
It is better to fight for justice than to rail at the ill.
Laugh
Laugh at your ills, And save doctors’ bills.
Read
To read without reflecting is like eating without digesting.
Play
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
Listen
See, listen, and be silent, and you will live in peace.
Cry
Cry with one eye and laugh with the other.
Think
Sing
The bird that can sing and won’t sing must be made to sing.
Watch TV
Afterwards she relented and let the children stay up late to watch TV.
Dance
Life is about learning to dance in the rain.
Turn on
I didn’t turn on the light, but groped my way across the room.
Turn off
You forgot to turn off the light.
Win
You win some, you lose some.
Fly
Don’t fly till you wings are feathered.
Cut
She cut the paper into small pieces.
Throw away
Your life is too valuable to throw away.
Sleep
He couldn’t get to sleep because he was too excited.
Close
Can you close the window? I’m in a draught .
Open
Open not your door when the devil knocks.
Write
She plans to write her memoirs.
Give
It is better to give than to receive.
Jump
The little boy gabble his prayers and jump into bed.
Eat
Eat to live, but not live to eat.
Drink
A man cannot whistle and drink at he same time.
Cook
I’ll have to cook them a meal or they’ll think I’m inhospitable.
Wash
You should always wash your hands before meals.
Wait
To know how to wait is the great secret of success.
Climb
Don’t climb a tree to look for fish.
Talk
Love understands love; it needs no talk.
Crawl
A child learns to crawl before he learns to walk.
Dream
Hope is but the dream of those that wake.
Dig
I’m going to dig down this wall.
Clap
“When I clap my hands, you must stand still, ” said the teacher.
Knit
Knit the brows and you’ll have an idea.
Sew
My grandmother taught me to sew.
Smell
Fish and guests smell after three days.
Kiss
Love starts with a smile, develops with a kiss and ends with a tear.
Hug
A silent hug means a thousand words to the unhappy heart.
Snore
If you snore, it’s better not to sleep on your back.
Bathe
Don’t bathe too soon after eating.
Bow
Time does not bow to you, you must bow to time.
Paint
A good face needs no paint.
Dive
You dive in first and test the temperature of the water.
Ski
We used to ski before noon then take a long lunch.
Stack
Please stack your chairs before you leave.
Buy
Money can buy the devil himself.
Shake
She put out her hand to shake mine.
Action Verbs List (By Types)
Physical Action Verbs
- Jump
- Run
- Walk
- Climb
- Crawl
- Sprint
- Skip
- Hop
- Dance
- Skip
- Jog
- Stroll
- Shuffle
- Gallop
- Prance
- March
- Skip
- Skate
- Slide
- Glide
- Fly
- Dive
- Swim
- Float
- Row
- Paddle
- Pedal
- Ride
- Drive
- Sail
- Spin
- Twirl
- Rotate
- Turn
- Pivot
- Twist
- Stretch
- Bend
- Flex
- Extend
- Reach
- Grab
- Clasp
- Hug
- Kiss
- Punch
- Strike
- Kick
- Tackle
- Throw
- Catch
- Pitch
- Hit
- Swing
- Lift
- Carry
- Hold
- Push
- Pull
- Drag
- Lift
- Haul
- Move
- Shift
- Shuffle
- Scoop
- Pour
- Stir
- Mix
- Chop
- Slice
- Dice
- Carve
- Shape
- Mold
- Grind
- Pound
- Crush
- Smack
- Rub
- Scrub
- Wipe
- Dust
- Polish
- Clean
- Scrub
- Brush
- Comb
- Trim
- Cut
- Shave
- Style
- Tie
- Untie
- Button
- Zip
- Unzip
- Snap
- Clasp
- Buckle
Mental Action Verbs
- Think
- Imagine
- Remember
- Recollect
- Contemplate
- Consider
- Ponder
- Reflect
- Meditate
- Visualize
- Envision
- Dream
- Fantasize
- Plan
- Strategize
- Analyze
- Evaluate
- Assess
- Judge
- Decide
- Choose
- Opt
- Perceive
- Sense
- Feel
- Emote
- Express
- Communicate
- Interpret
- Understand
Emotional Action Verbs
- Love
- Adore
- Admire
- Cherish
- Treasure
- Appreciate
- Care
- Comfort
- Console
- Empathize
- Encourage
- Support
- Nurture
- Trust
- Respect
- Value
- Understand
- Sympathize
- Forgive
- Accept
Communicative Action Verbs
- Speak
- Talk
- Listen
- Hear
- Converse
- Communicate
- Express
- Articulate
- Describe
- Explain
- Inform
- Persuade
- Discuss
- Debate
- Negotiate
- Argue
- Present
- Share
- Collaborate
- Network
Action Verbs | Pictures
Action Verbs: List of Common Action Verbs Image 1
Action Verbs: List of Common Action Verbs Image 2
Action Verbs with Pictures for Kids
Learn useful verbs list commonly used in English with verbs pictures for kids.
- List of action verbs with images.
- Classroom verbs vocabulary in English.
- Restaurant verbs in English.
- Household chores with pictures in English.
- List of daily routines in English.
- Body movement verbs with images in English.
- Action words with pictures.
- List of cooking verbs in English.
- Sport words and exercise actions vocabulary words.
Learn the video of common verbs in English with American English pronunciation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhvpOkEFFEk
Last Updated on March 30, 2023
is is an action verb
Hi, this is a great list with nice images thanks a bunch!
KAAN Hocadan gelenler seri like
Is cost an action verb?
Hey there! Actually, “cost” is not an action verb. It’s actually a linking verb that connects the subject of the sentence to a complement that describes or identifies it.