action verb for research

Resume Worded   |  Career Strategy

Research action verbs and power verbs to use on your resume.

We've compiled the best action verbs you can use to showcase your Research experience.

For more research-based and analytical experiences, pick verbs that demonstrate how you gather, assess, and interpret information. While research and analysis often happen “behind the scenes”, they can still have a significant impact on a business. With the following examples, potential employers will see not only how you gathered information, but also how you used it to make a difference.

Action Verbs To Show Your Research Experience:

• Interviewed
• Established
• Interpreted
• Investigated

We've compiled a lot more action verbs by job titles below.

Research Action Verbs By Job

Choose the job title that's most relevant to you to get targeted action verbs.

• How to use action verbs
• Verbs for Project Coordinator Resumes      (e.g. Communicated, Guided, Led, Reduced & more)
• Verbs for Chief of Staff Resumes      (e.g. Led, Managed, Reviewed, Developed & more)
• Verbs for Project Manager Resumes      (e.g. Facilitated, Overcame, Improved, & more)
• Verbs for Event Coordinator Resumes      (e.g. Launched, Directed, Guided, Managed & more)
• Verbs for Administrative Coordinator Resumes      (e.g. Communicated, Identified, Prepared, Generated & more)
• Verbs for Sales Coordinator Resumes      (e.g. Doubled, Communicated, Led, Motivated & more)

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• Sample resume examples

How To Use Action Verbs On Your Resume

To show you how to use these action verbs in your resume, see this infographic for reference. You'll note that each bullet point uses strong action verbs, with a specific description of the task that was accomplished.

Action Verbs For Project Coordinator Roles

On your resume, you should always lead into your past accomplishments with strong, clear action verbs. The best verbs are the ones that most accurately depict what you accomplished and how you went about doing it. As an aspiring project coordinator, you should choose specific verbs that speak to the core skills of the job -- namely, your organizational, planning, leadership, and communication skills. Did you execute projects flawlessly in past jobs? Did you facilitate meetings or resolve problems effectively? Choosing strong verbs to talk about your accomplishments can positively influence hiring managers’ professional opinion of you -- and make you more likely to get an interview. If you need some inspiration, here is a list of project coordination-related verbs to get you started.

• Implemented
• Facilitated
• Coordinated
• Communicated

Relevant Examples Using Action Verbs

• Processed claims and successfully won 50 lawsuits associated with the policies of 10 departments, improving the company’s goodwill..

• Researched and demonstrated electrical modulation of luminescence intensity of quantum dots by 80%. .

Action Verbs For Chief of Staff Roles

A chief of staff position is first and foremost a leadership position. Using action verbs that emphasize your leadership experience is a direct way to indicate your capabilities in this field. 

This list of action verbs is focused on the managerial and operational tasks of the position as well as the communication tasks that you can expect for a chief of staff. Using the right action verbs is an easy way to spotlight yourself and help showcase your most relevant skills in a few words.

• Spearheaded
• Strengthened
• Orchestrated

• Documented and submitted over 250 severe adverse event reports, protocol deviations and quality improvement forms within the required timeline of 2 business days of event. Commended for strong analytical and report writing skills, promoted within 12 months - ahead of schedule by 12 months..

• Interpreted, applied, and enforced 5 federal regulations for research compliance across 13 universities, leading to an improvement in the quality of educational research in 1 year..

Action Verbs For Project Manager Roles

The best project manager resumes discuss specific accomplishments using strong action verbs. Strong verbs convey your role in your achievements; in any resume bullet point, we recommend pairing an action verb with the quantifiable result you achieved to show the impact of what you did. Project managers may have a diverse set of skills to draw upon, and there are a huge number of verbs you could choose to describe what you’re good at. We have an entire article devoted to action verbs to use in resumes -- in particular, project managers may want to pursue the ones in the accomplishment-driven, communication, management-related, leadership, and problem-solving sections.

• Accelerated

• Assisted with cell development research projects, as part of the Leukemia Research team - identifying cell changes, determining cell counts and coulter counters with 98% accuracy. .

• Conducted analytical experiments to determine component purity through titration, HPLC, GC and MALDI process, with over 95% accuracy rate. Presented and awarded the ‘Research Project of the year’ in the 2014 International Science Conference..

Action Verbs For Event Coordinator Roles

Event coordinators are highly organized, calm under pressure, and passionate about throwing a great event. You know how to earn the trust of your clients and you can quickly find creative solutions to unforeseen challenges. You’re a great leader, but you also know how to listen to what your clients need -- sometimes without them even asking! It’s important to not only possess these skills, but effectively communicate them through your resume. As you write your event coordinator resume, use powerful action verbs such as “supervised” and “managed” to emphasize your leadership skills. Use strong and powerful verbs that can create a clear visual in someone’s mind of a well-organized, effective event coordinator. Try your best not to use generic verbs -- they can actually hurt rather than help your resume.

• Documented surveillance research outcomes and instruments for data analysis at 20 national conferences and 8 local meetings, findings were adopted by the legislature of 3 states..

• Designed a new sequencing technique that refines a common laboratory protocol. New procedure increases efficiency by 50% on average, reducing processing time by 25%, and creating more usable biological end-products. .

Action Verbs For Administrative Coordinator Roles

Administrative coordinators are responsible for multiple tasks around the office, so they are often held accountable for office efficiency in terms of clerical duties. A good way to demonstrate reliability is to use strong action verbs. These words provide a sense of accountability and improve your resume’s readability. 

You can also use these action verbs for demonstrating your achievements, such as identifying issues in financial records or office documents, improving operations, etc. Check out the following action verbs we’ve selected for an administrative coordinator role based on our research.

• Co-ordinated

• Reviewed investor insurance guidelines and 500 loan documents, established baseline requirements that saved Resume Worded $1 MM in the first year. .

• Conducted the research project on food science and genetically modified foods associated side effects, completing the research 8 days ahead of schedule, with the direction of 2 food scientists. .

Action Verbs For Sales Coordinator Roles

Your sales coordinator's resume should reflect your communication skills and reliability. Why not leverage your work experience to demonstrate that? You can give the right impression on your resume by using strong action verbs. Try streamlining your work history by using bullet points. You can start each point with a strong action verb. 

Action verbs are precise and hold you accountable for achievements in the sales team, so it’s also a great idea for mentioning your accomplishments. If you need some inspiration to use various action verbs, check the list below.

• Established new training curriculum and conducted trainings; new training procedures reduced overall costs by 50%..

• Increased the Company's Twitter following by 96% and 178% on Facebook, introducing the company to a younger age group..

Get a free resume review: Find out if your action verbs are strong enough.

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Best Active Verbs for Research Papers with Examples

What are active verbs.

Active verbs, often referred to as "action verbs," depict activities, processes, or occurrences. They energize sentences by illustrating direct actions, like "run," "write," or "discover." In contrast, linking verbs connect the subject of a sentence to its complement, offering information about the subject rather than denoting an action. The most common linking verb is the "be" verb (am, is, are, was, were, etc.), which often describes a state of being. While active verbs demonstrate direct activity or motion, linking and "be" verbs serve as bridges, revealing relations or states rather than actions.

While linking verbs are necessary to states facts or show connections between two or more items, subjects, or ideas, active verbs usually have a more specific meaning that can explain these connections and actions with greater accuracy. And they captivate the reader’s attention! (See what I did there?)

Why are active verbs important to use in research papers?

Using active verbs in academic papers enhances clarity and precision, propelling the narrative forward and making your arguments more compelling. Active verbs provide clear agents of action, making your assertions clearer and more vigorous. This dynamism ensures readers grasp the research's core points and its implications.

For example, using an active vs passive voice sentence can create more immediate connection and clarity for the reader. Instead of writing "The experiment was conducted by the team," one could write, "The team conducted the experiment."

Similarly, rather than stating "Results were analyzed," a more direct approach would be "We analyzed the results." Such usage not only shortens sentences but also centers the focus, making the statements about the research more robust and persuasive.

Best Active Verbs for Academic & Research Papers

When writing research papers , choose active verbs that clarify and energize writing: the Introduction section "presents" a hypothesis, the Methods section "describes" your study procedures, the Results section "shows" the findings, and the Discussion section "argues" the wider implications. Active language makes each section more direct and engaging, effectively guiding readers through the study's journey—from initial inquiry to final conclusions—while highlighting the researcher's active role in the scholarly exploration.

Active verbs to introduce a research topic

Using active verbs in the Introduction section of a research paper sets a strong foundation for the study, indicating the actions taken by researchers and the direction of their inquiry.

Stresses a key stance or finding, especially when referring to published literature.

Indicates a thorough investigation into a research topic.

Draws attention to important aspects or details of the study topic you are addressing.

Questions or disputes established theories or beliefs, especially in previous published studies.

Highlights and describes a point of interest or importance.

Inspects or scrutinizes a subject closely.

Sets up the context or background for the study.

Articulates

Clearly expresses an idea or theory. Useful when setting up a research problem statement .

Makes something clear by explaining it in more detail.

Active verbs to describe your study approach

Each of these verbs indicates a specific, targeted action taken by researchers to advance understanding of their study's topic, laying out the groundwork in the Introduction for what the study aims to accomplish and how.

Suggests a theory, idea, or method for consideration.

Investigates

Implies a methodical examination of the subject.

Indicates a careful evaluation or estimation of a concept.

Suggests a definitive or conclusive finding or result.

Indicates the measurement or expression of an element in numerical terms.

Active verbs to describe study methods

The following verbs express a specific action in the methodology of a research study, detailing how researchers execute their investigations and handle data to derive meaningful conclusions.

Implies carrying out a planned process or experiment. Often used to refer to methods in other studies the literature review section .

Suggests putting a plan or technique into action.

Indicates the use of tools, techniques, or information for a specific purpose.

Denotes the determination of the quantity, degree, or capacity of something.

Refers to the systematic gathering of data or samples.

Involves examining data or details methodically to uncover relationships, patterns, or insights.

Active verbs for a hypothesis or problem statement

Each of the following verbs initiates a hypothesis or statement of the problem , indicating different levels of certainty and foundations of reasoning, which the research then aims to explore, support, or refute.

Suggests a hypothesis or a theory based on limited evidence as a starting point for further investigation.

Proposes a statement or hypothesis that is assumed to be true, and from which a conclusion can be drawn.

Attempts to identify

Conveys an explicit effort to identify or isolate a specific element or relationship in the study.

Foretells a future event or outcome based on a theory or observation.

Theorizes or puts forward a consideration about a subject without firm evidence.

Proposes an idea or possibility based on indirect or incomplete evidence.

Active verbs used to interpret and explain study results

In the Discussion section , the findings of your study are interpreted and explained to the reader before moving on to study implications and limitations . These verbs communicate the outcomes of the research in a precise and assertive manner, conveying how the data aligns with the expectations and hypotheses laid out earlier in the paper.

Shows or unveils findings from the data.

Demonstrates

Clearly shows the result of an experiment or study, often implying evidence of a cause-and-effect relationship.

Illustrates

Shows or presentes a particular result or trend.

Provides evidence in favor of a theory or hypothesis.

Establishes the truth or validity of an anticipated outcome or theory.

Visually presents data, often implying the use of figures or tables.

Active verbs to discuss study implications

In the discussion of study implications, these verbs help to weave the results into a broader context, suggesting relevance, highlighting importance, and pointing out potential consequences within the respective field of research.

Proposes a possible interpretation or implication without making a definitive statement.

Points to broader consequences or significances hinted at by the results.

Indicates a logical consequence or a meaning that is not explicitly stated.

Strengthens the validity or importance of a concept or finding.

Emphasizes certain findings and their broader ramifications.

Underscores

Underlines or emphasizes the significance or seriousness of an implication.

Active verbs to discuss study limitations

Discussing study limitations with these verbs allows researchers to maintain transparency about their study's weaknesses, thus providing a clearer picture of the context and reliability of the research findings.

Acknowledges

Recognizes the existence of potential weaknesses or restrictions in the study.

Directly confronts a specific limitation and often discusses ways it has been mitigated.

Makes an observation of a limitation that could affect the interpretation of the results.

Reflects on or thinks about a limitation in the context of the study's impact or scope.

Points out and describes a specific limitation.

Makes known or reveals a limitation that could have an effect on the study's conclusions.

Active verbs for the Conclusion section

In the Conclusion section , these verbs are pivotal in crystallizing the core findings, implications, and the future trajectory of research initiated by the study.

Signifies drawing a final inference or judgement based on the results.

Provides a brief statement of the main points of the research findings.

States positively or asserts the validity of the findings.

Advises on a course of action based on the results obtained.

Highlights the importance or significance of the research outcomes.

Use an AI Grammar Checker to Correct Your Research Verbs

While lists like these will certainly help you improve your writing in any academic paper, it can still be a good idea to revise your paper using an AI writing assistant during the drafting process, and with professional editing services before submitting your work to journals.

Wordvice’s AI Proofreading Tool , AI Paraphrasing Tool , AI Summarizer , and AI Translator are ideal for enhancing your academic papers. And with our professional editing services, including academic proofreading and paper editing services, you get high-quality English editing from experts in your paper’s subject area.

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100+ Research Vocabulary Words & Phrases

The academic community can be conservative when it comes to enforcing academic writing style , but your writing shouldn’t be so boring that people lose interest midway through the first paragraph! Given that competition is at an all-time high for academics looking to publish their papers, we know you must be anxious about what you can do to improve your publishing odds.

To be sure, your research must be sound, your paper must be structured logically, and the different manuscript sections must contain the appropriate information. But your research must also be clearly explained. Clarity obviously depends on the correct use of English, and there are many common mistakes that you should watch out for, for example when it comes to articles , prepositions , word choice , and even punctuation . But even if you are on top of your grammar and sentence structure, you can still make your writing more compelling (or more boring) by using powerful verbs and phrases (vs the same weaker ones over and over). So, how do you go about achieving the latter?

Below are a few ways to breathe life into your writing.

1. Analyze Vocabulary Using Word Clouds

Have you heard of “Wordles”? A Wordle is a visual representation of words, with the size of each word being proportional to the number of times it appears in the text it is based on. The original company website seems to have gone out of business, but there are a number of free word cloud generation sites that allow you to copy and paste your draft manuscript into a text box to quickly discover how repetitive your writing is and which verbs you might want to replace to improve your manuscript.

Seeing a visual word cloud of your work might also help you assess the key themes and points readers will glean from your paper. If the Wordle result displays words you hadn’t intended to emphasize, then that’s a sign you should revise your paper to make sure readers will focus on the right information.

As an example, below is a Wordle of our article entitled, “ How to Choose the Best title for Your Journal Manuscript .” You can see how frequently certain terms appear in that post, based on the font size of the text. The keywords, “titles,” “journal,” “research,” and “papers,” were all the intended focus of our blog post.

2. Study Language Patterns of Similarly Published Works

Study the language pattern found in the most downloaded and cited articles published by your target journal. Understanding the journal’s editorial preferences will help you write in a style that appeals to the publication’s readership.

Another way to analyze the language of a target journal’s papers is to use Wordle (see above). If you copy and paste the text of an article related to your research topic into the applet, you can discover the common phrases and terms the paper’s authors used.

For example, if you were writing a paper on  links between smoking and cancer , you might look for a recent review on the topic, preferably published by your target journal. Copy and paste the text into Wordle and examine the key phrases to see if you’ve included similar wording in your own draft. The Wordle result might look like the following, based on the example linked above.

If you are not sure yet where to publish and just want some generally good examples of descriptive verbs, analytical verbs, and reporting verbs that are commonly used in academic writing, then have a look at this list of useful phrases for research papers .

3. Use More Active and Precise Verbs

Have you heard of synonyms? Of course you have. But have you looked beyond single-word replacements and rephrased entire clauses with stronger, more vivid ones? You’ll find this task is easier to do if you use the active voice more often than the passive voice . Even if you keep your original sentence structure, you can eliminate weak verbs like “be” from your draft and choose more vivid and precise action verbs. As always, however, be careful about using only a thesaurus to identify synonyms. Make sure the substitutes fit the context in which you need a more interesting or “perfect” word. Online dictionaries such as the Merriam-Webster and the Cambridge Dictionary are good sources to check entire phrases in context in case you are unsure whether a synonym is a good match for a word you want to replace. 

To help you build a strong arsenal of commonly used phrases in academic papers, we’ve compiled a list of synonyms you might want to consider when drafting or editing your research paper . While we do not suggest that the phrases in the “Original Word/Phrase” column should be completely avoided, we do recommend interspersing these with the more dynamic terms found under “Recommended Substitutes.”

A. Describing the scope of a current project or prior research

B. outlining a topic’s background, c. describing the analytical elements of a paper, d. discussing results, e. discussing methods, f. explaining the impact of new research, wordvice writing resources.

For additional information on how to tighten your sentences (e.g., eliminate wordiness and use active voice to greater effect), you can try Wordvice’s FREE APA Citation Generator and learn more about how to proofread and edit your paper to ensure your work is free of errors.

Before submitting your manuscript to academic journals, be sure to use our free AI proofreader to catch errors in grammar, spelling, and mechanics. And use our English editing services from Wordvice, including academic editing services , cover letter editing , manuscript editing , and research paper editing services to make sure your work is up to a high academic level.

We also have a collection of other useful articles for you, for example on how to strengthen your writing style , how to avoid fillers to write more powerful sentences , and how to eliminate prepositions and avoid nominalizations . Additionally, get advice on all the other important aspects of writing a research paper on our academic resources pages .

How to Use Verbs Effectively in Your Research Paper

• Writing Research Papers
• Writing Essays
• English Grammar
• M.Ed., Education Administration, University of Georgia
• B.A., History, Armstrong State University

When you conduct a research project, one part of your job is to assert your own original thesis with an effective argument . There are a few ways to enhance your research paper so it sounds more impressive. One method to sound convincing as an authority is to elevate your vocabulary by using strong verbs.

Remember, verbs are action words . The verbs you select for your writing should represent a specific action . This means you should avoid generic verbs to keep your writing interesting and sharp. Your goal is to keep teacher or audience interested.

Try to avoid these less exciting verbs:

How to Choose Your Verbs

No matter what your grade level, you must do your best to come across as an authority on your topic. Think about the noticeable difference in these statements:

• I saw more mold on one piece of bread.
• I observed a distinct difference between the two pieces of bread. Most importantly, one piece of bread displayed a greater density of mold.

The second statement sounds more mature, because we replaced "saw" with "observed" and "had" with "displayed." In fact, the verb "observe " is more accurate. When carrying out a scientific experiment, after all, you use more than mere eyesight to scrutinize your results. You may smell, hear, or feel some results, and those are all part of observing.

Now consider these statements when writing a history essay:

• Historian Robert Dulvany says there were three main causes for the war.
• Historian Robert Dulvany asserted that three events prompted the war.

The second phrase sounds more authoritative and direct. And it's the verbs that make all the difference.

Also, make sure to use active rather than passive structure with your verbs. Active verbs make your writing clearer and more engaging. Review these statements:

• T he war on terror was launched by the United States.
• The United States launched the war on terror. 

The subject-verb construction is a more active and powerful statement.

How to Sound Like an Authority

Each discipline (like history, science or literature) has a distinct tone with certain verbs that appear frequently. As you read over your sources, observe the tone and language. 

While reviewing the first draft of your research paper, conduct an inventory of your verbs. Are they tired and weak or strong and effective? This list of verbs provides suggestions to make your research paper sound more authoritative.

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Get science-backed answers as you write with Paperpal's Research feature

Are You Using the Right Verbs in Your Research Paper?

Most researchers are focused on ensuring that their work not only gets the attention it deserves but is also published in leading international journals. However, this is a challenging task, given that journals often reject papers due to issues with language even if the research presented was groundbreaking. Writing an academic research paper is not just about conducting and reporting one’s work – the language one uses plays a significant role in how the research paper is received.

Academic writing needs to be formal and precise and researchers must possess the requisite language skills and knowledge about the correct words to use in scientific writing. This is a skill that early career researchers must acquire and perfect over time. Consistent writing will help you gain the experience you require to create error-free, submission ready research manuscripts. You will for example, learn that one proven way to make your manuscript more compelling is by using strong verbs for essays.

This article provides a brief overview of the different types of verbs to use in research papers. It also offers interesting insights into how verbs can be used effectively in academic writing.

What is a verb?

Let us first understand what a verb is. Verbs are words that convey an action, occurrence, or state of being. Given that most manuscripts contain explanations and descriptions of processes and methodologies, it is important to understand and choose the right kind of action verbs to be in for maximum impact. 

Types of verbs

Broadly, verbs can be categorized into three different types.

• Action verbs – Action verbs verbs communicate precise actions
• Auxiliary verbs – Auxiliary verbs display the tense of the verb used. Sometimes referred to as helping verbs, they reveal if the verb is positive or negative
• Modal verbs – Modal verbs are auxiliary verbs that denote abilities

When using verbs in academic writing, it is very important for early career researchers and authors to ensure that colloquial or informal verbs should not make their way into their academic writing.  Adhering to a formal structure of language with appropriate verbs is essential to maintaining the right tone and to accurately convey the author’s thoughts. For example, the use of action verbs in research objectives or strong verbs for thesis statements goes a long way in making the manuscript more impactful.

Usage of verbs

Researchers and authors must be careful in their selection of verbs to convey the proposed meaning. It is important to understand the context in which the verbs are to be used, and the way the language must be structured. Let us look at some examples of how verbs are used in academic writing.

If researchers want to present an analysis of the work that has been done, then verbs like analyze, appraise, define, diagnose, explore, identify, investigate, or observe may be a used effectively. Attest, confirm, contend, demonstrate, document, indicate or reveal are some verbs researchers can use when they discuss the findings of their research. When trying to convey that a researcher has taken a specific stand of their research findings, they can use words such as like , comment, convey, elaborate, establish, identify, or propose.

Phrasal verbs

It is important for early career researchers and authors to learn how to avoid phrasal verbs in academic writing. Phrasal verbs are words that we use to convey what we think or speak about, see, or experience. These kinds of phrasal verbs tend to be informal and out of place in an academic setting. Some common phrasal verbs and their alternative single verb that may be used are: Find out ( discover ), Looked at ( discovered ), Put into ( contribute ). However, phrasal verbs like carried out, consists of, discussed by, based on, or subjected to may be used while writing research articles or papers.

Contractions and abbreviations

Another aspect that early career researchers and authors must be mindful of when writing their manuscript is to avoid the use of contractions and abbreviations like “isn’t”, “won’t” or “don’t” as they have an informal flavor that is typically not accepted as formal writing. Academic writing demands that the expanded forms of these abbreviations must be used – so ‘is not,’ ‘will not,’ and ‘do not,’ are the correct versions to be used.

It is also highly recommended that researchers check the American or British style guides to make sure that the verbs they are using align with them.

Paperpal is a comprehensive AI writing toolkit that helps students and researchers achieve 2x the writing in half the time. It leverages 21+ years of STM experience and insights from millions of research articles to provide in-depth academic writing, language editing, and submission readiness support to help you write better, faster.  

Get accurate academic translations, rewriting support, grammar checks, vocabulary suggestions, and generative AI assistance that delivers human precision at machine speed. Try for free or upgrade to Paperpal Prime starting at US$19 a month to access premium features, including consistency, plagiarism, and 30+ submission readiness checks to help you succeed.  

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Related Reads:

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• What is an Imperative Sentence?
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The Top 150 Action Verbs to Use on Your Resume

Use our list of 150 resume action verbs to refine your resume or CV tasks, accomplishments, and achievements.

Action Verb Resume Writing Framework

Young professionals tend to dilute their resumes with long and excessive writing that makes it hard for recruiters to understand their previous responsibilities and achievements. Making this mistake could cost a job candidate an opportunity at a first-round interview.

To fix this, all you have to do is follow this popular 3-part resume experience framework:

Action Verb + What You Did + Quantified Result

Using an action verb at the beginning of your experience description helps you make a clear and concise bullet point. This will make it easy for any recruiter to understand your tasks and accomplishments.

Here are some examples:

150 Categorized Resume Action Verbs

Use the following sections to find the perfect action verb for any resume task, responsibility, or achievement.

Project Management & Leadership

Project building & initiation, project fund raising & resource acquisition, project enhancements & improvements, project sales, communication, customer service, project research & analysis, project completion, advancement, achievement.

Use these action verbs when describing projects you helped lead and manage.

• Coordinated
• Facilitated
• Spearheaded

Use these action verbs when describing a task or project that you initiated or further developed.

• Constructed
• Established

Use these action verbs when you are describing a task or accomplishment where you helped acquire necessary resources like funding, materials, clients, or key partners.

Use these action verbs to describe a task or accomplishment where you added value to the company (increased revenue, increased productivity, increased efficiency, decreased costs, decrease excess material waste, etc.).

• Capitalized
• Consolidated

Use these action verbs to describe times when you were involved with customer-facing activities or communications between managers, colleagues, and clients.

• Corresponded
• Recommended
• Represented

Use these action verbs to describe tasks or achievements centered around research, modeling, forecasting, reporting, and other analytical activities.

• Illustrated
• Investigated

Use these action verbs to describe accomplishments where you completed an important project that resulted in a notable benefit for the organization or relevant stakeholders.

• Accelerated
• Centralized
• Implemented
• Outperformed
• Restructured
• Standardized
• Streamlined
• Transformed

Video Breakdown: Make a Resume in Under 5 Minutes

Michael, a former financial analyst at Tesla, walks us through his 5 minute guide on building a refined resume!

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If you're preparing to compete for competitive internships and full-time jobs, consider checking out our Excel for Business & Finance Course and our Power BI for Business Analytics Course to join our students who have landed roles at Goldman Sachs, Tesla, Amazon, and other top-tier companies!

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400 Powerful Action Verbs and Synonyms to Boost Your Resume

Your resume is essentially a marketing tool that sells your skills, experience, and achievements to potential recruiters and employers. Therefore, it needs to be crafted in a way that catches their attention and makes a lasting impression. One of the most effective ways to achieve this is by using powerful action verbs.

Action verbs not only make your resume more engaging and dynamic, but they also help recruiters understand your achievements and skills better. By using strong action verbs, you can highlight your accomplishments and show what you are capable of achieving in your next role.

In this article, we will explore 400 powerful action verbs and synonyms that you can use to boost your resume’s impact. These verbs are categorized according to the skills and achievements they represent, which will make it easier for you to identify the ones that best suit your profile.

So, buckle up and get ready to take your resume to the next level by incorporating these powerful action verbs.

Benefits of Using Action Verbs

Using action verbs in your resume can greatly benefit your job candidacy in several ways:

Boosting your candidacy  By using strong and powerful action verbs, you can make your resume stand out among the stack of applications. Action verbs give recruiters the impression that you are an active and dynamic candidate, which can help boost your chances of being selected for an interview.

Highlighting your skills and accomplishments  Action verbs allow you to clearly and effectively communicate your skills and achievements to potential employers. By starting your bullet points with powerful action verbs, you can draw attention to your notable accomplishments, such as exceeding sales targets, leading successful projects, or improving operational efficiencies.

Enhancing the readability of your resume  Using action verbs can also make your resume more engaging to read, helping to keep recruiters engaged and interested in what you have to offer. By using words that convey action and impact, you can create a more compelling and persuasive resume that stands out from the rest.

Incorporating powerful action verbs throughout your resume is a smart strategy for boosting your candidacy and highlighting your skills and accomplishments. By doing so, you can enhance the overall readability of your resume and position yourself as a strong and dynamic candidate.

Action Verbs for Communication Skills

Your communication skills are vital to your professional success. It’s not just what you say, but how you say it that truly matters. To make your resume stand out, incorporate strong and powerful action verbs to describe your communication skills. These verbs can help to show off your personality and qualities as they relate to your profession.

Here are some action verbs you can use to describe communication skills on your resume:

Negotiating

• Compromised
• Diplomatically
• Established
• Facilitated
• Collaborated
• Coordinated
• Adjudicated
• Interpreted
• Corresponded
• Articulated

Incorporating these strong action verbs into your resume will make you stand out from the crowd. Don’t be afraid to take time to think about the best way to describe your communication skills, as it can make all the difference in securing your next job. Remember, your resume is your first impression to potential employers, so make it count!

Action Verbs for Leadership Skills

As a professional seeking to enhance your resume, it’s important to understand the impact of well-chosen action verbs, particularly for leadership skills. Here are six powerful verbs to use when describing your leadership experience:

1. Directing

Directing refers to the act of giving clear and specific instructions to team members. It’s about providing guidance, structure, and clarity to ensure the successful completion of tasks or projects. Some synonyms for directing include:

• Orchestrating

2. Delegating

Delegating is the ability to assign tasks and responsibilities to others while maintaining overall control of a project or task. It involves identifying individual strengths and assigning tasks accordingly to ensure efficiency and productivity. Some synonyms for delegating include:

• Transmitting

3. Empowering

Empowering your team involves giving them the tools, resources, and authority they need to effectively complete tasks and make decisions. It’s about building trust and confidence in your team’s abilities while fostering a sense of ownership and accountability. Synonyms for empowering include:

• Giving authority
• Investing power
• Encouraging
• Authorizing
• Strengthening

Guiding is the process of providing advice, support, and direction to team members to help them achieve their goals. This requires a deep understanding of your team’s strengths and weaknesses and the ability to provide constructive feedback. Some synonyms for guiding include:

• Counselling

5. Inspiring

Inspiring team members involves creating a shared vision and motivating them to work towards a common goal. This requires effective communication, leading by example, and fostering an environment that encourages creativity and innovation. Synonyms for inspiring include:

• Stimulating

6. Motivating

Motivating your team involves creating a positive work environment and giving team members the incentives they need to perform at their best. This might include providing recognition, offering professional development opportunities, or setting achievable goals. Some synonyms for motivating include:

• Incentivizing

When it comes to listing leadership skills on your resume, using powerful action verbs can make a big difference. These six verbs – directing, delegating, empowering, guiding, inspiring, and motivating – are great starting points that will help showcase your leadership abilities and achievements to potential employers.

Action Verbs for Problem Solving Skills

When it comes to landing your dream job, highlighting your problem-solving skills is crucial. Your potential employers want to know that you can handle any obstacles that come their way and make decisions that will benefit the company. This is why using the right action verbs on your resume is essential.

Here are six powerful action verbs you can use to demonstrate your problem-solving skills:

• Analyzing Analyzing involves breaking down a problem into its component parts to better understand how it works. It is essential for any problem-solving situation, and using this verb on your resume suggests that you don’t shy away from complicated issues.

Example: Analyzed data to identify trends and patterns, which led to a reduction in product defects by 20%.

• Diagnosing Diagnosing aims to identify the root cause of a problem. When you’re able to diagnose a problem effectively, you can find the appropriate solution to fix it.

Example: Diagnosed software issues and worked with the development team to implement fixes, resulting in a 50% reduction in bug reports.

• Troubleshooting This term refers to the process of finding and fixing problems. Troubleshooting is especially relevant for IT professionals, but it can apply to any industry where identifying and solving problems is a critical component.

Example: Troubleshot complex network issues, leading to a 25% increase in data transfer speeds.

• Researching Researching is the process of finding solutions to problems by gathering information and analyzing data.

Example: Researched the competition’s marketing strategies to create a more effective advertising campaign, leading to a 40% increase in sales.

• Developing Developing involves finding new and innovative solutions to problems.

Example: Developed a new customer support platform, which reduced response times by 50%.

• Implementing Implementing refers to putting solutions into action. This is a crucial step in the problem-solving process as it ensures that the solution you have come up with is effective and sustainable.

Example: Implemented a new training program for managers, leading to a 70% reduction in employee turnover.

Using these six action verbs on your resume will demonstrate your problem-solving prowess and show potential employers that you are someone they can rely on to find and implement effective solutions.

Action Verbs for Technical Skills

Technical skills are essential in many industries, whether in tech or non-tech fields. Using the right action verbs can help highlight your technical skills and expertise to potential employers. Here are some powerful action verbs to use when describing your technical skills on your resume or cover letter:

1. Programming

• Architected
• Implemented
• Troubleshot

2. Developing

• Orchestrated

3. Designing

• Conceptualized
• Illustrated

5. Innovating

• Brainstormed

Remember to match the action verbs to the skills you’re discussing – make sure the words you’re using accurately represent your experience and accomplishments. Don’t be afraid to mix and match different verbs to create a dynamic and impactful resume. Using powerful action words can make all the difference in setting you apart from other candidates and catching the eye of a hiring manager.

Action Verbs for Sales Skills

Using powerful and relevant action verbs can showcase your skills and experience in a highly effective manner, increasing your chances of landing your next sales job.

Here are six essential sales skills and the accompanying action verbs that you can use to boost your resume:

1. Converting

Converting is the art of turning a prospect into a paying customer. Here are some action verbs that you can use to describe this process on your resume:

• Closed the deal with

Closing is the final stage of the sales process, where you seal the deal and get the customer to commit to making a purchase. Here are some action verbs that you can use to show your expertise in closing deals:

• Locked down

3. Upselling

Upselling refers to convincing customers to purchase additional or higher-priced products than they originally intended. Here are some action verbs that you can use to show your upselling skills:

• Recommended

4. Prospecting

Prospecting is the process of finding potential customers and qualifying them for the sales process. Here are some action verbs that you can use to showcase your prospecting skills:

5. Consulting

Consulting is the process of providing expert advice to customers to help them make informed decisions. Here are some action verbs that you can use to describe your consulting skills:

6. Networking

Networking involves reaching out to potential customers or industry professionals to build relationships that can lead to sales opportunities. Here are some action verbs that you can use to showcase your networking skills:

Incorporating strong action verbs into your resume can make a significant difference in your job search. By using these power words, you can communicate your sales skills effectively and stand out from the competition.

Action Verbs for Creative Skills

If you’re applying for a job in a creative field, your resume needs to reflect your design and invention skills. To show your potential employer that you have the necessary talent and abilities, it’s important to use powerful action verbs related to conceptualizing, brainstorming, inventing, designing, composing, and drafting. Here are some of the best options to help you stand out:

Conceptualizing

• Visualizing

Conceptualizing is all about coming up with new ideas or concepts for a project. Use strong verbs, like “ideating” and “visualizing,” to demonstrate your ability to develop unique and innovative ideas.

Brainstorming

• Collaborating
• Idea-generating
• Problem-solving
• Streamlining
• Strategizing

Brainstorming is a group activity that requires teamwork and communication. Use action words like “collaborating” and “strategizing” to show that you’re a team player who can work effectively with others to generate new ideas.

• Formulating
• Discovering

Inventing is all about creating something new. Use powerful verbs like “formulating” and “pioneering” to communicate your ability to develop new solutions and products.

• Constructing

Designing refers to creating or improving the aesthetic value and functionality of something. Use action words like “crafting” and “shaping” to describe your ability to create visually appealing designs.

Composing refers to creating written content, whether it’s for advertising, websites, or other mediums. Use verbs like “authoring” and “crafting” to describe your ability to write compelling content that grabs attention.

• Diagramming

Drafting refers to creating a rough outline or visual representation of a concept. Use action verbs like “outlining” and “mapping” to show your ability to plan and organize ideas effectively.

Incorporating powerful action verbs into your resume can help you stand out to potential employers. By using strong language to describe your various creative skills, you’ll show that you have the talent and expertise necessary to excel in your field.

Action Verbs for Organizational Skills

As a highly organized professional, your ability to manage complex projects and coordinate the efforts of multiple teams is invaluable to any organization. To showcase your organizational skills on your resume, it is essential to use powerful action verbs that highlight your abilities in planning, scheduling, managing, budgeting, coordinating, and supervising.

Here are some effective action verbs to use when describing your organizational skills:

• Analyze: Identify problems and opportunities, evaluate information, and develop effective plans.
• Forecast: Predict future trends, conduct research, and anticipate potential challenges.
• Design: Develop detailed project plans and strategies to achieve specific objectives.
• Develop: Create and implement effective plans, policies, and procedures.
• Chart: Map out timelines, action plans, and milestones to achieve project goals.
• Prioritize: Identify and rank tasks based on urgency, importance, and deadlines.
• Streamline: Optimize workflows, processes, and task sequences to maximize efficiency.
• Schedule: Create and manage project calendars, timelines, and deadlines.
• Allocate: Assign tasks, resources, and responsibilities to team members.
• Coordinate: Align schedules and resources across multiple teams and departments.
• Lead: Direct and motivate teams to achieve project goals and objectives.
• Delegate: Empower team members to take on tasks and responsibilities.
• Monitor: Track progress, evaluate performance, and adjust plans as needed.
• Improve: Identify and implement process improvements to increase efficiency and effectiveness.
• Collaborate: Work with cross-functional teams to achieve project goals.
• Estimate: Calculate the costs of various resources, including labor, supplies, and equipment.
• Forecast: Predict future expenses and revenue projections.
• Allocate: Assign funds to specific projects, programs, and activities.
• Monitor: Track spending, evaluate expenses, and adjust budgets as needed.
• Control: Ensure that spending stays within budget and is aligned with organizational goals.

Coordinating

• Align: Ensure that all activities, timelines, and resources are aligned with project goals.
• Facilitate: Help team members and stakeholders communicate and work together effectively.
• Liaise: Serve as a point of contact between different teams, departments, and stakeholders.
• Integrate: Combine different project components into a cohesive whole.
• Manage: Oversee the coordination of activities, timelines, and resources across multiple teams.

Supervising

• Coach: Provide guidance, feedback, and support to team members.
• Motivate: Inspire and encourage team members to achieve their goals.
• Evaluate: Assess team members’ performance, identify areas for improvement, and provide constructive feedback.
• Delegate: Assign specific tasks and responsibilities to team members.
• Monitor: Track progress, identify potential issues, and adjust plans as needed.

Incorporating these action verbs into your resume can help you showcase your organizational skills and stand out to potential employers.

Action Verbs for Research Skills

As a researcher or someone with strong research skills, you need to have a wide range of action verbs in your arsenal to illustrate your competencies and achievements. The following are six powerful action verbs that can help you effectively communicate your research skills on your resume:

Investigating

Investigating involves the process of gathering information, examining it, and determining its veracity or reliability. As a researcher, you need to have excellent investigative skills to find and analyze relevant data or information. Some examples of how to use this action verb in your resume include:

• Investigated the impact of new government policies on the pharmaceutical industry
• Conducted investigative research on the effectiveness of new marketing strategies
• Explored and investigated the factors that affect consumers’ purchasing decisions

Comparing involves analyzing two or more sets of data or information to identify similarities, differences, or patterns. As a researcher, you need to be able to compare and contrast different variables or concepts to make informed decisions or recommendations. Examples of how to use this action verb in your resume include:

• Compared and analyzed the stock performances of different industries
• Conducted a comparative analysis of customer preferences across different regions
• Evaluated and compared the effectiveness of different employee training programs

Collecting involves gathering and organizing data or information from different sources. As a researcher, you need to be able to collect relevant data or information to support your research objectives or questions. Some examples of how to use this action verb in your resume include:

• Collected and analyzed survey responses from a target demographic
• Compiled and organized data from various sources to analyze trends in the market
• Gathered and documented data on the impact of new environmental regulations

Citing involves referencing and crediting the sources of information used in your research. As a researcher, you need to be able to cite your sources accurately and avoid plagiarism. Some examples of how to use this action verb in your resume include:

• Cited and referenced academic papers and articles in a research report
• Compiled and maintained a database of references used in the research project
• Developed guidelines for citing sources in a research publication

Evaluating involves assessing the value, effectiveness or quality of something. As a researcher, you need to be able to evaluate the results of your research and make evidence-based recommendations. Some examples of how to use this action verb in your resume include:

• Evaluated the impact of employee engagement programs on organizational performance
• Assessed and evaluated the effectiveness of a new software implementation
• Conducted a thorough evaluation of the health benefits of a new diet plan

Synthesizing

Synthesizing involves combining or integrating different pieces of information or data to form a coherent whole. As a researcher, you need to be able to synthesize information from different sources and present them in a clear and concise manner.

Action Verbs for Analytical Skills

In today’s job market, companies are searching for employees who possess strong analytical skills to help solve complex problems and drive growth. As a job seeker, you want to showcase these skills in your resume and highlight your ability to analyze, measure, calculate, predict, model, and test.

1. Analyzing:  The ability to analyze data, information, and situations is a critical component of many professional roles. To demonstrate your analytical skills in your resume, consider using action verbs such as:

• Analyzed customer data to identify trends and inform marketing strategy
• Conducted in-depth analysis of financial reports to identify cost savings opportunities

2. Measuring:  Measuring skills involve collecting quantitative and qualitative data and using it to inform decision-making processes. Highlight your ability to measure in your resume by including language such as:

• Developed a system for measuring customer satisfaction and identified areas for improvement
• Conducted performance evaluations to measure employee productivity and identify opportunities for growth

3. Calculating:  Calculating skills involve using mathematical concepts and data to perform complex calculations and forecast outcomes. Highlight your ability to calculate in your resume with language such as:

• Developed financial models to calculate return on investment for new product lines
• Conducted cost-benefit analyses to determine the most effective solutions for reducing expenses

4. Predicting:  Predicting skills involve using data analysis and modeling techniques to forecast future outcomes and trends. Highlight your ability to predict in your resume with action verbs such as:

• Predicted customer needs and developed new product features to meet those needs
• Conducted market research to predict future trends and inform marketing strategy

5. Modeling:  Modeling skills involve creating mathematical or statistical models to help understand complex systems or processes. To showcase your modeling skills in your resume, consider using verbs such as:

• Developed a predictive model to forecast budget needs for upcoming fiscal year
• Created a simulation model to predict the impact of operational changes on customer satisfaction

6. Testing:  Testing skills involve the ability to develop and implement tests to validate hypotheses and measure outcomes. Highlight your testing skills in your resume by using action verbs such as:

• Conducted A/B testing on website design to identify the most effective layout
• Developed and executed product testing protocols to ensure quality standards were met.

To showcase your analytical skills on your resume, it’s important to use strong action verbs that clearly demonstrate your ability to analyze, measure, calculate, predict, model, and test. By doing so, you’ll increase your chances of standing out to prospective employers and landing your dream job.

Action Verbs for Service Skills

When it comes to showcasing your service skills on your resume, using strong and impactful action verbs can make all the difference. Here are some powerful verbs that you can use to highlight your abilities in serving, supporting, facilitating, advising, educating, and resolving:

• Participated
• Strengthened

Facilitating

• Communicated
• Demonstrated
• Enlightened
• Investigated

These powerful action verbs can help you to stand out from the crowd and demonstrate your service skills in a more impactful and memorable way. So don’t be afraid to use them on your resume and show potential employers the value that you can bring to their organization.

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How to Incorporate Action Verbs Into Your Writing

Has a teacher ever told you to use more variety in your writing? You probably wracked your brain for a way to do this. Should you add more synonyms? Maybe you need more sentence structure variation? In fact, one great solution is to use more action verbs ! Action verbs can make your writing more interesting and flow better. Let’s look at how to incorporate them into your writing.

Step up your writing game with the BibMe Plus grammar and plagiarism checker . It can help you spot potential mistakes before your teacher does. In addition, read our grammar guides to learn about adjectives that start with a , what is a conjunction , a determiner definition , and many other grammar topics.

Defining the Term

Before undertaking the task of incorporating action verbs into your writing, it’s important to understand what “action verbs” are in the first place: an action verb is a verb that specifically expresses action (such as jump, run, grab, blink ), as opposed to other types of verbs, like linking or helping verbs . According to Merriam-Webster, a linking verb is “a word or expression (such as a form of be , become , feel , or seem ) that links a subject with its predicate.” A helping verb is “a verb (as am , may , or will ) that is used with another verb to express person, number, mood, or tense.”

Therefore action verbs are verbs that help create a visual of a subject performing an action in your reader’s mind. Action verb examples include jump, search, nurture , and so on.

Make a Word Bank

Before sitting down to write your first draft, it can be helpful to write up a word bank of different action verbs. This word bank can be a tool to draw on as you write so that you incorporate more action verbs into your writing from the get-go. Your word bank could contain both common and lesser-known verbs to give you a variety. Use a thesaurus if you get stuck.

A word bank of action verbs could be set up in two columns like this:

Double check that the verbs on your list are indeed action verbs so that you don’t accidentally use linking or helping verbs when you don’t want to.

Look at Tone

When selecting action verbs to use, consider the type of composition you’re writing. This will dictate both your tone in the piece and how you select action verbs. For example, if you are writing a formal research paper , you might employ less commonly used vocabulary words like gravitate or deliberate to help create a formal or academic tone. A word bank of verbs suitable to your tone (more sophisticated ones for a formal/academic tone, more common ones for an informal tone) might be helpful.

Tip: If you have a vocabulary textbook left over from recent years in school, you might look there to identify action verbs at the level of vocabulary your tone dictates.

Insert Verbs During Revision

Before sitting down to revise your use of action verbs in the first draft, take a moment to plan out the revision as a whole. When revising, be certain to consider your organization of logic or events, word choice (like action verbs!), and proofreading.

To insert verbs during revision, focus on the wording step of revision (such as how you phrased each sentence and paragraph). Wording contributes to tone and how the reader perceives what you’re saying. If you have written a persuasive essay, for instance, you want to consider use of action verbs in relation to the argument, such as using verbs unique to each type of rhetorical strategy.

For logos aspects of your essay (appealing to logic), look for action verbs that accompany hard facts like investigate or inspect . For aspects of an essay that appeal to emotions (pathos), make sure appropriate action verbs are attached, such as undergo or believe . The same concept applies to setting up your credibility with the reader (ethos), where you want to use action verbs that display your level of education and intelligence.

Ultimately, during this revision of wording, you want to look for places where you could have used an action verb but didn’t, or could have used a stronger one. No matter what type of writing you are doing, from an essay to a creative piece, you want to display your grasp of language in a way that is unique to your style of writing.

Tip : Reading out loud is helpful for all aspects of revision, such as locating awkward passages that can be ironed out with stronger, more direct wording. This is a great way to find areas where more action verbs might be placed.

Use a Thesaurus

Don’t forget that you can use a thesaurus during revision! One strategy for working action verbs into your writing is to read over your work and replace verbs that were repeated a lot, or are helping or linking verbs (like seem or become ).

Example : If you tend to use the linking verb “to be” repeatedly (verbs like is , was , were , are , etc.), you might want to do a word search and replace some instances with action verbs.

Look at this sentence:

The birds were happy to fly to the next telephone line.

Try replacing “were” like this:

The birds swooped happily over to the next telephone line.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re looking to have more variety on first drafts or searching for places to slip more creative action verbs into a revision, knowing what an action verb is and how to use one is important. Happy writing and revising!

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Action Verbs: Definition, Examples, & Exercises

• The Albert Team
• Last Updated On: March 1, 2022

Verbs are an essential part of any sentence. Without verbs, you cannot express a complete thought.

The Merriam Webster dictionary defines a verb as “a word that expresses an action, an occurrence, or a state of being”. These three different functions fall into three different types of verbs: action verbs, linking or “to be” verbs , and auxiliary verbs .

In this blog post, we will focus on learning how to recognize and use action verbs , but you can learn more about the other types of verbs in Albert’s Grammar Course . 

When you’re ready, test yourself with a quiz and practice with our high-quality, standards-aligned questions here .

What We Review

The Basics of Action Verbs

What is an action verb? 

An action verb describes an action that a person , animal, object, or process in nature can do. For example, a cheetah chases gazelles across a plain, and the gazelles sprint away, hearing the tall grass rustle underneath the lion’s paws. 

In the sentence above, there are several verbs that describe action; the cheetah chases the gazelles, and the gazelles hear the grass rustle and sprint away. 

How are action verbs different from auxiliary verbs?

While action verbs are typically the main verb of the sentence and express the action being done by the subject, auxiliary verbs “help” the main action verb by expressing tense, mood, or voice. 

For example, if the gazelles were no longer being chased by the cheetah, the sentence would read: The gazelles were chased by the cheetah and would have been caught if the cheetah would not have stubbed his toe on a rock. 

Let’s take this sentence apart, because there is a lot going on! 

In the sentence above, there are three action verbs: chased, caught, and stubbed . 

However, there are also several auxiliary verbs that add meaning to both the action verbs and the overall sentence. These auxiliary verbs are: were, would, have, and been . Were , have , and been are auxiliary verbs that express tense, or when the cheetah chased the gazelles. 

The auxiliary verb would expresses possibility. It was very possible that the gazelles would have been the cheetah’s breakfast if the cheetah had not stubbed his toe. 

If you want to read more about auxiliary verbs, check out this post on Albert. 

How are action verbs different from linking verbs?

Action verbs and linking verbs are alike in that they can both be the main verb of a sentence. However, they are different in that linking verbs cannot show action. Ever. Linking verbs can only show a state of being or condition. 

For example, Kevin was tired of asking Joe for his Netflix password, so he finally bought his own subscription. 

In this sentence, the linking verb was is the main verb of the first clause. This linking verb “links” or connects the subject, Kevin , to his current state of being, which is tired . There is also an action verb in the second independent clause of this sentence. Because Kevin was tired of bugging his friend, he took action when he bought a Netflix subscription. 

What is the relationship between these different types of verbs? 

To recap what we learned above, actions verbs and linking verbs can stand on their own in sentences as the main verb, even though they have very different functions. Sentences can have both action and linking verbs in the same sentence, but they have to be in separate clauses. 

Here is what it might look like: 

When Carlos and Suzanne rode the Haunted Mansion ride at Disney World, Carlos thought he might be scared, but Suzanne assured him that the ride was more silly than scary. 

In the sentence above, rode, thought, and assured are all action verbs . Each of these action verbs are connected to a subject. Both was and be are linking verbs . Each of these linking verbs are also connected to their own subjects. 

Conversely, action verbs can exist without auxiliary verbs , but auxiliary verbs must be connected to a main verb, whether it is an action or linking verb, to make sense. 

Let’s look at the sentence above one more time: 

If you look closely, you’ll see that there is an auxiliary verb attached to a linking verb. The auxiliary verb, might, is attached to the linking verb, be . 

Two things are going on here: while the linking verb, be, expresses a state of being (Carlos is scared!), the auxiliary verb, might, helps the reader understand that Carlos is not actually scared right now, but there is a possibility that he could be scared later. 

How do you use action verbs? 

Simply put, writers use action verbs in sentences to express an action done by a person, an animal, an object, or nature. 

For example, a postal worker delivering mail, a cat meowing , a ball rolling , or a flower blooming are all action verbs. 

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3 Tips for Understanding Action Verbs

Here are some important tips to help you understand action verbs: 

Tip #1. Action verbs must describe an action–not a state of being

• For example, the sentence, “the sun scorched the parched desert sand” uses an action verb to describe an action done by the hot sun.
• You would NOT use an action verb to say that “the sun is hot” because the verb, is , is a linking verb that describes a state of being

Tip #2. Action verbs and linking verbs can be used together, but they must be in separate clauses

• For example, Marcus played Fortnite until 2 in the morning last night, so he was too tired to get up for school the next morning. 
• In this sentence, played is an action verb describing an action done by Marcus in the first clause. Then, in the second clause, a linking verb is used to show Marcus’ state of being: Marcus was tired. 

Tip #3. Action verbs can be paired with auxiliary verbs to express tense, mood, or voice

• For example, Laura Jean should tell Will that she has feelings for him, but she is too nervous. 
• In this sentence, the auxiliary verb, should , shows the reader that Laura Jean has not told Will how she feels about him, but the writer believes that she should. 

Applying the Basics: Action Verb Review & Practice

Now that you understand how action verbs are used, review the anchor chart below and complete the review to test your knowledge of these verbs. 

The Ultimate List of Action, Linking, and Auxiliary Verb Examples

Refer to the graphic below to learn the difference between these three types of verbs:

This list, obviously, does not include all action, linking, and auxiliary verbs; however, it is meant to be used as a guide while identifying these types of verbs.

Action Verb Exercises and Review 

Now that you know some common action verbs, test your ability to accurately identify these verbs.

Select the action verb(s) in the sentences below. Remember, these verbs must describe action and not a state of being.

1. Esperanza could not wait to celebrate her upcoming quinceanera with her family and closest friends. 

• In this sentence, wait is the only action verb . While there are other verbs in this sentence, this is the only one that describes action. 

2. The crowd exploded with cheers as the hockey puck slid through the goalie’s legs and into the goal. 

• In this sentence , exploded and slid are both examples of action verbs . Exploded describes the loud cheers of the crowd of people, and slid describes how the hockey puck narrowly made it into the goal. 

3. Alexis stared gloomily out of her bedroom window as the rain poured down unceasingly. 

• In this sentence, both stared and poured are action verbs. Stared describes an action done by Alexis, while poured describes an action performed by the rain. 

4. The cat reared its back and hissed through its teeth even though the excited lab only wanted to play. 

• In this sentence , reared, hissed, and wanted are all examples of action verbs. Reared and hissed are actions performed by the cat, while wanted expresses an action done by the dog. 

5. As the runners approached the final mile, they ignored their screaming legs and pushed themselves even harder. 

• In this sentence, approached, ignored, and pushed are all action verbs that describe the runners. 

Pro tip : When evaluating whether a verb is an action verb, ask yourself, is this verb describing an action that can be performed by a person, an animal, an object, or nature? If it is not describing an action but rather a state of being, then it is NOT an action verb. 

For additional practice, check out Action Verb content on Albert.

Try for Yourself: Action Verbs Quiz

Feeling confident in your understanding of action verbs? 

Take this short six-question quiz to see what you’ve learned:

1. Does an action verb have to include an auxiliary or helping verb in order to make sense?

• Answer: No 
• Correct Explanation: That’s right! An action verb can stand on its own without an auxiliary verb. Auxiliary verbs are only added if the writer wants to express tense, mood, or voice. 
• Incorrect Explanation: Sorry, that’s not right! Remember, an action verb can stand on its own as the main verb of a sentence. While auxiliary verbs can be used with action verbs, they are not required. 

2. Can an action verb be used in the same sentence as a linking verb as long as these verbs are in different clauses? 

• Answer: Yes 
• Correct Explanation: That’s right! Action and linking verbs can be used together in the same sentence, but they must be in separate clauses. 
• Incorrect Explanation: Sorry, that’s not right! Remember, both action verbs and linking verbs can both function as the main verb of the sentence. This means that if you have a sentence with multiple independent clauses, you can have more than one main verb. 

3. In this sentence, are the underlined words action or linking verbs ?

As she spoke , her lips moved but no sound came out, then suddenly, her hands formed words in sign language as quickly as she mouthed them. 

• Answer: Action
• Correct Explanation: That’s right! The verbs spoke, moved, came, formed, and mouthed are all examples of action verbs because they describe actions done by the girl.
• Incorrect Explanation: Sorry, that’s not right! Remember, an action verb must express action while linking verbs must express a state of being. 

4. In this sentence, are the underlined words action or linking verbs ?

When he was first rescued, the Pit Bull puppy was scared and trembling, but as soon as he knew he was safe and had a loving home, he was happy. 

• Answer: Linking
• Correct Explanation: That’s right! The verbs was and had are linking verbs that connect the subject, the Pit Bull puppy, to his changing state of being. 
• Incorrect Explanation: Sorry, that’s not right! Remember, a linking verb connects the subject to a state of being. 

5. In this sentence, are the underlined words action or auxiliary verbs ?

The caterpillar burst out of his chrysalis as a radiant butterfly. 

• Correct Explanation: That’s right! The verb burst is an example of an action verb because it describes an action done by the caterpillar. 

6. In this sentence, are the underlined words action or auxiliary verbs ?

You may go to bed late, but you may not eat five cartons of ice cream. 

• Answer: Auxiliary  
• Correct Explanation: That’s right! The verb may “helps” the action verbs express permission and is an auxiliary verb . 
• Incorrect Explanation: Sorry, that’s not right!  Remember, an auxiliary verb must connect to an action or linking verb to make sense, and auxiliary verbs exist to “help” verbs express tense, voice, or mood. 

For additional practice with action verbs, check out our practice on Albert: Action Verbs .

Teacher’s Corner for Action Verbs

While it’s true that understanding the difference between these three types of verbs is a foundational grammar skill, the Common Core English Language Progressive Skills Chart shows that even elementary-level skills require regular practice in the upper grades. 

The Common Core State Standards site is a great resource that lists specific standards addressing action verbs.

Albert’s action verb practice can easily be implemented in the classroom for various grade levels. These short practice assignments are great for homework, bell work, mini-lessons, and exit tickets. 

We also provide full-fledged assessments to evaluate student understanding of these grammatical concepts, but if you prefer, you can select different concepts to craft your own assessments to best fit your students’ needs.

Summary for Action Verbs

Action Verbs describe an action that can be done by a person, an animal, an object, or nature. 

Linking Verbs describe a state of being. 

Auxiliary Verbs help action and linking verbs by adding tense, mood, or voice to these verbs. 

Be sure to check out our grammar course for more action verb practice. 

You can also access over 3,400 high-quality questions that address nearly every grammatical concept.

Need help preparing for your Grammar exam?

Albert has hundreds of grammar practice questions with detailed explanations to help you master concepts.

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Action Verbs | Definition, List & Examples

Published on 18 September 2023 by Kassiani Nikolopoulou .

An action verb (also called a dynamic verb ) describes the action that the subject of the sentence performs (e.g., “I  run”).

Action verbs differ from stative verbs, which describe a state of being (e.g., “believe”, “want”).

My grandfather walks with a stick.

The train arrived on time.

You can download our list of common action verbs in the format of your choice below.

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Table of contents

What is an action verb, how to use action verbs, action verbs vs. stative verbs, action verbs vs. linking verbs, worksheet: action verbs, other interesting language articles, frequently asked questions.

An action verb is a type of verb that describes the action that the subject of a sentence is performing. Action verbs can refer to both physical and mental  actions (i.e., internal processes and actions related to thinking, perceiving, or feeling).

Whitney analysed  the data to find patterns.

He played  football in high school.

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Action verbs can be transitive or intransitive. Transitive verbs require a direct object , such as a noun or pronoun , that receives the action. Without a direct object, sentences with a transitive verb are vague or incomplete.

In contrast, intransitive verbs do not require a direct object that receives the action of the verb. However, other information may come after the verb, such as an adverb .

Some action verbs can act as both transitive and intransitive  verbs.

He grows  tomatoes on his balcony. My niece is growing quickly. Note Because action verbs make your writing more vivid, they can be effectively used for resume writing. Unlike generic phrases like “responsible for”, “tasked with”, or “experienced in”, action verbs are attention-grabbing and help emphasise our abilities and accomplishments.

• I was responsible for social media accounts across various platforms.
• I managed social media accounts across various platforms.

Action or dynamic verbs are often contrasted with stative verbs . While action verbs communicate action, stative verbs describe a state of being or perception (e.g., “it tasted”, “he is”, “she heard”). Due to this, they are typically used to provide more information about the subject, rather than express an action that the subject did. For example, the sentence “Tom loves spending time with friends” uses a stative verb “love” to give us more information about Tom’s personality.

However, some verbs can be used as either dynamic or stative verbs depending on the meaning of the sentence. For example, the verb “think” can denote someone’s opinion ( stative verb ) or the internal process of considering something ( action verb ).

One way to tell action verbs from stative verbs is to look at the verb tenses . Because stative verbs usually describe a state of being that is unchanging, they can’t be used in the continuous (or progressive) tenses. Action verbs, on the other hand, can be used in continuous tenses.

• I am wanting  some food.
• I want some food.

Another way is to look at the meaning of the sentence and ask yourself if the verb shows what someone does or how someone feels or is. If the verb describes what someone does, it is an action verb. Otherwise, it is probably a stative verb.

Action verbs should not be confused with linking verbs , like “be”, “become”, and “seem”. Linking verbs connect the subject of a sentence with a subject complement (i.e., a noun or adjective that describes it).

Unlike action verbs, linking verbs do not describe an action, but add more details about the subject, such as how it looks or tastes.

For example, the sentence “The children seem happy” uses the linking verb “seem” to link the subject (“the children”) with the adjective (“happy”).

Some verbs can be either linking verbs or action verbs . If you are unsure, try replacing the linking verb with a conjugated form of the verb “be”. If the sentence still makes sense, then it is a linking verb.

To test your understanding of action verbs, try the worksheet below. Choose the correct answer for each question.

• Practice questions
• Answers and explanations
• Are you baking cookies? They_______[smell/are smelling] delicious!
• Understand is not an action verb, but a stative verb because we can’t use it in a continuous tense. For example, “I’m not understanding you at all” is incorrect.
• Kick is an action verb, while “believe” and “agree” are both stative verbs.
• Smell is correct because it is a stative verb and cannot be used in the present continuous.

If you want to know more about commonly confused words, definitions, common mistakes, and differences between US and UK spellings, make sure to check out some of our other language articles with explanations, examples, and quizzes.

Nouns & pronouns

• Common nouns
• Proper nouns
• Collective nouns
• Personal pronouns
• Uncountable and countable nouns
• Verb tenses
• Phrasal verbs
• Sentence structure
• Active vs passive voice
• Subject-verb agreement
• Interjections
• Determiners
• Prepositions

There are many ways to categorize verbs into various types. A verb can fall into one or more of these categories depending on how it is used.

Some of the main types of verbs are:

• Regular verbs
• Irregular verbs
• Transitive verbs
• Intransitive verbs
• Dynamic verbs
• Stative verbs
• Linking verbs
• Auxiliary verbs
• Modal verbs

If you are unsure whether a word is an action verb , consider whether it is describing an action (e.g., “run”) or a state of being (e.g., “understand”). If the word describes an action, then it’s an action verb.

The function of an action verb is to describe what the subject of the sentence is doing. For example, in the sentence “You have been working since 7 o’clock this morning,” the action verb “work” shows us what the subject (“you”) has been doing.

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Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts

Categorized List of Action Verbs

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This categorized list contains only a few action verbs you can use to compose concise, persuasive , reader-centered resumes, cover letters, or other types of workplace documents. The examples are illustrations that overview the uses of action verbs in professional writing.

The media file above takes you to a sample resume containing action verbs.

Communication Skills

• Negotiated price reductions of up to 30% with key suppliers
• Interpreted financial information from the company's annual report
• Translated all relevant company information into three different languages

Other words: Advocated, Clarified, Corresponded, Encouraged, Interpreted, Negotiated, Persuaded, Presented, Publicized, Solicited, Spoke, Translated

Creative Skills

• Created an interior design layout for a 500 square foot retail venue
• Introduced a new method of navigating through the A Software Program
• Presented a new research project to the managers at the location

Other words: Acted, Applied, Composed, Created, Established, Founded, Improvised, Introduced, Navigated, Originated, Presented

Data / Financial Skills

• Computed and recorded inventory valuation on a monthly basis
• Documented inventory counts at the end of each working day
• Verified the amount owed to the creditor in the Accounts Payable account

Other words: Adjusted, Allocated, Budgeted, Compared, Computed, Counted, Documented, Estimated, Forecasted, Inventoried, Invested, Predicted, Projected, Quantified, Recorded, Retrieved, Verified

Helping Skills

• Assisted customers with choosing appropriate products
• Trained new employees in the plant through demonstration techniques
• Volunteered in the nursing home every weekend to serve the community

Other words: Aided, Assisted, Built, Demonstrated, Facilitated, Familiarized, Helped, Performed, Represented, Solved, Supported, Trained, Upheld, Volunteered, Worked

Management / Leadership Skills

• Administered a variety of surveys to collect data about the employees
• Implemented a safety communication program to promote safety awareness
• Recommended an alternative solution to one of the company's problems

Other words: Achieved, Administered, Assigned, Attained, Challenged, Coordinated, Decided, Delegated, Established, Executed, Handled, Headed, Implemented, Incorporated, Intervened, Launched, Led, Managed, Mediated, Motivated, Organized, Oversaw, Planned, Prioritized, Recommended, Scheduled, Supervised, United

Efficiency Skills

• Eliminated unnecessary cost of each unit of production
• Maximized profits by 15% during the month of July
• Heightened the level of employee moral through program incentives

Other words: Accelerated, Allocated, Boosted, Centralized, Downsized, Edited, Eliminated, Enhanced, Expanded, Expedited, Heightened, Lessened, Leveraged, Maximized, Merged, Optimized, Outlined, Outsourced, Prevented, Prioritized, Reorganized, Reduced, Revised, Simplified, Standardized, Stream-lined, Synthesized, Systematized, Upgraded

Research Skills

• Examined a new mechanism that may reduce sickness on the campus
• Identified a major defect in a microscopic organism last month
• Surveyed a group of Purdue students with regard to Product A

Other words: Analyzed, Collected, Compared, Controlled, Detected, Diagnosed, Evaluated, Examined, Gathered, Identified, Investigated, Located, Measured, Organized, Reported, Replicated, Researched, Reviewed, Searched, Surveyed, Wrote

Teaching Skills

• Defined a new product strategy and discussed how it would be implemented
• Instructed Department B on how to reduce inventory and raise net sales
• Prepared a tutorial manual for an English class last semester

Other words: Aided, Advised, Clarified, Communicated, Defined, Developed, Encouraged, Evaluated, Facilitated, Fostered, Guided, Helped, Incorporated, Informed, Initiated, Instructed, Lectured, Prepared, Supported, Supervised, Stimulated, Taught

Technical Skills

• Assembled an entire computer programming simulation for my CPT course
• Designed a new form of Widget C for a manufacturing facility
• Programmed three new computer programs tailored for a network system

Other words: Analyzed, Assembled, Built, Calculated, Computed, Conducted, Designed, Devised, Engineered, Maintained, Operated, Programmed, Reengineered, Remodeled, Transmitted

Sources/References:

Rosalie Maggio, How to Say It, Webster's Thesaurus .