100+ Action Verbs in English with Meaning, Types, and Examples

Wondering what action verbs are? Action verbs are words that describe an action performed by the subject of a sentence. For instance, you are reading this right now. Here, the word ‘reading’ is the action verb. In this guide, you will learn about their types and explore a list of commonly used action verbs.

Table of Contents

• What Is an Action Verb
• Types of Action Verbs
• List of Everyday Action Verbs for Kids
• Examples of Action Verbs Used in Sentences

What Is an Action Verb?

An action verb is a verb that shows the action performed by the subject in a sentence. It can describe both physical and mental activities. In other words, an action verb tells us what someone or something is doing. For example, “He is listening to music.” Here, the word listening is an action verb as it describes what the subject is doing. 

Types of Action Verbs 

Action verbs are classified into different types based on the kind of action they express and how they function in a sentence. They are divided into physical and mental action verbs based on the type of action they express. Based on their function, they are further classified as transitive and intransitive action verbs, as well as regular and irregular action verbs. Let’s learn them in detail:

• Physical Action Verbs: These verbs show action that we can see or perform. Some examples are read, write, listen, dance, eat, jump, and run. 
• Mental Action Verbs: These verbs describe actions that happen in the mind, such as thinking, imagining, or deciding. Some examples are decide, think, remember, and imagine.
• Transitive and Intransitive Action Verbs: Transitive verbs need a direct object to complete their meaning. For example, in “She read a book,” read is transitive because it needs the object a book. In contrast, intransitive verbs do not need a direct object. For example, “The children are sleeping.”
• Regular and Irregular Action Verbs: These are classified based on how the verb changes in the past tense. Regular verbs form the past tense by adding -ed to the base form, such as walk → walked, while irregular verbs change differently, such as go → went.

List of Everyday Action Verbs for Kids

Here is a list of 100+ action verbs for everyday use. 

1. Run
2. Walk
3. Talk
4. Share
5. Sit
6. Stand
7. Jump
8. Keep
9. Bring
10. Buy
11. Drink
12. Chew
13. Sing
14. Speak
15. Drive
16. Travel
17. Teach
18. Learn
19. Play
20. Dance
21. Skip
22. Try
23. Move
24. Lift
25. Make
26. Cook
27. Read
28. Write
29. Test
30. Ring
31. Call
32. Clear
33. Stitch
34. Listen
35. Eat
36. Draw
37. Sell
38. Open
39. Close
40. Wash
41. Clean
42. Build
43. Break
44. Fix
45. Work
46. Watch
47. Ask
48. Answer
49. Shout
50. Whisper
51. Pull
52. Push
53. Cut
54. Paint
55. Swim
56. Climb
57. Shake
58. Frown
59. Kick
60. Hit
61. Dig
62. Plant
63. Chop
64. Grow
65. Text
66. Plan
67. Meet
68. Invite
69. Celebrate
70. Complain
71. Decide
72. Forget
73. Remember
74. Search
75. Find
76. Begin
77. Think
78. Imagine
79. Explore
80. Study
81. Repair
82. Arrive
83. Leave
84. Enter
85. Exit
86. Carry
87. Catch
88. Throw
89. Drop
90. Help
91. Smile
92. Laugh
93. Cry
94. Sleep
95. Wake
96. Change
97. Choose
98. Collect
99. Deliver
100. Follow
101. Lead
102. Hold
103. Hug
104. Knock
105. Pour
106. Ride
107. Scream
108. Send
109. Serve
110. Shop
111. Slide
112. Spend
113. Start
114. Stop
115. Touch
116. Turn
117. Visit
118. Wait
119. Win
120. Lose

Examples of Action Verbs Used in Sentences

Most action verbs appear right next to the subject. Below are some examples of action verbs used in sentences.

• She drives to the office.
• The birds flew away.
• I brush my teeth twice a day.
• They watched a movie last night.
• He lifts the box carefully.
• She imagines a magical world.
• We travel during holidays.
• The teacher assigned homework.
• He jumps over the rope easily.
• I prepared dinner for my family.
• She speaks confidently on stage.
• They repair broken machines.
• The sun shone brightly.
• I carry heavy bags.
• She reads a storybook at night.
• He completed the project on time.
• They arrived late.
• She painted the wall yesterday.
• We analyse the data properly.
• He decides carefully.
• The mechanic fixes the engine.
• I eat an apple after lunch.
• She remembered her childhood days.
• He took the bus to work.
• They learn new skills every day.
• She bought a new dress.
• I think about my goals.
• He builds a wooden table.
• They went to the market.
• She cooks dinner for her family.
• I wash my clothes on Sunday.
• He whispers a secret to his friend.
• They play cricket on Sundays.
• She apologises for her mistake.
• We pack our bags every evening.
• He solves difficult problems.
• The baby slept peacefully.
• I started a new course.
• She moves the chair aside.
• He drinks a glass of milk daily.
• They visited their grandparents.
• We write notes in our notebooks.
• She runs in the park every morning.
• I saw a rainbow.
• He dresses quickly in the morning.
• They shout during the match.
• She answers politely.
• We finished the task early.
• He commutes to work by bus.
• The child cries loudly.
• I ask questions in class.
• We gave her a gift.
• He laughed loudly.
• She bathes before going to school.
• She climbs the stairs every morning.
• He throws the ball across the field.
• They catch the bus at 9 a.m.
• I explore new places during vacations.
• She studies for her exams at night.
• He plants trees in the garden.
• We decorate the hall for the function.
• The dog chases the cat.
• She measures the ingredients carefully.
• He delivers parcels on time.
• They collect stamps as a hobby.
• I organise my desk every week.
• She designs beautiful dresses.
• He investigates the problem thoroughly.
• We celebrate festivals with joy.
• The chef serves hot soup.
• She knits a sweater for her brother.
• He operates the machine safely.
• They compete in the tournament.
• I observe the stars at night.